The Throwback Trick to Joyful Living

It is our responsibility to bring as much joy to our lives as possible. If you’ve been feeling stuck around what lights you up, look back to your childhood and use the activities you were naturally drawn to for inspiration. For me, it was cooking and food. I used to pour over cookbooks and local take-out menus as a 7-year-old, letting my mind wander over whether I’d get the Greek salad or mozzarella sticks as an appetizer, given the choice.

This love of food helped me become an incredible cook, but over time “real life” took over my creative hobby. While I still love reading cookbooks, my everyday repertoire is based on ease and convenience more so than the pleasure of creating, or trying something new. When we’re young, life is so much more magical. We can do simply to enjoy the process of creation, rather than rushing to get to the outcome.

We are meant to create in this lifetime, and for it to feel fun along the way. I channeled this idea into reclaiming the joy cooking and learning about food used to bring me as a kid. I picked up a new cookbook from the library, spent some time choosing recipes that inspired me, and got in my kitchen to create.

I set the mood with the perfect playlist and allowed myself a full Sunday afternoon with no deadlines, simply the intention of enjoying the creative process. Cooking slowly and pleasurably filled me up so much, and I hope you use this as inspiration in your own life. What did you love to do as a kid, and how did that change as you “grew up”? Pick one activity and bring it back into your life with the same childlike enthusiasm you held for it earlier, and let me know how much it lights you up!

XOXOXO