I started full-time freelance writing/editing in 2023 after working at newspapers my entire adult life. It's shocking how many damaging ideas about "how to work" still govern my mind every day. This post really yelled at me, in a good way!
Cooking with what I have is this year's thing. I'm losing weight (for my ongoing health and not bc society rewards the slim with their kinder regard) and cooking at home keeps me out of the drive up. I made nachos last night with some seitan chorizo to see if this is something I like enough to learn to make. I did enjoy it, and I can see where it would be worth my while to learn to make bc boy howdy was that small pkg expensive.
Love this! We’re right around the same age, and I’m really feeling your words. I love the Kurt Vonnegut quote “I tell you, we are here on earth to fart around, and don’t let anybody tell you different” :)
This reminds me a bit of Iris learning to be the "leading lady" in her life instead of the "best friend." Loved that movie (The Holiday) and love this shift towards doing less. :)
Bravo and thank you. Perfect summary of the issues of many. Less is where I want to go this year.
Less drama. Less stress. Less pushing that boulder up the hill.
More life. More clarity. More value.
I actually told my boss in mid December I intend to refocus on my core duties and do less peripheral stuff that is very clearly “not my job”. Set some better boundaries. And in a week when I return (we Aussies check out for weeks in this silly season), I have to implement that.
But for now, I’m cooking that sensational looking ramen!
Preach!! Love your mantra for 2025. It’s how I felt going into 2024, knowing I was retiring early (at 47) to regain some sanity and to just be. My wife and I went on two epic road trips this last year and one of my friend’s boyfriend said “everyday is like a field trip to somewhere cool or interesting for you two!” That pretty much sums up our life now and we are heading into 2025 with more field trips, more adventures, and more liming. Trevor Noah had an interview in which he talked about liming. Which is just being. No need to do shit. His buddies would call him up and ask if he wanted to lime. Which he says it could be just getting together and chilling. Doing nothing. Maybe someone starts chatting or laughing but the whole point is to be with each other and just be. To me, liming is chilling near a river with a big campfire and laughing while eating good food. That’s what makes my heart happy. So here’s to liming more in 2025. Doing the things or not doing anything, but making sure our heart smiles with those we love by our sides. Sending good vibes to you all in 2025. ❤️🔥
This resonated with me so much. I just took two weeks of solid rest and chill and it felt WEIRD. We are around the same age and I think we had a similar experience. The grind chewed me up and spit me out. I’m working on cleaning that all up now.
Yeah I think we’ve lived similar lives and we have all the burn out to prove it. I’m so glad you found some time to rest. Maybe it won’t feel so weird to us one day
It finally doesn’t feel weird…and I have to be back in the office on Tuesday 😂. I did pretty well with it. No meltdowns or craziness just vague sense of unease. I’ll take it! Will never NOT feel like I should be doing something though…
Cheers to the new year and doing less! May we move through this year at a pace that allows us to be present in the moments that will linger in our memories for years to come. ❤️
Doing less improves quality. I can do a million things half-assed. But to truly do quality work, art, relationship, etc. there needs to be less. Thanks for the heads up on this Michelle.
I really felt this today. I have consistently bent over backwards for people who didn't care and would drop me the second something more interesting came along. I will happily support your goal of doing less.
Thank you for putting into words what I have not been able to do. For me, another thought is the "work smarter not harder" process. And that can apply to our food. You've done a marvelous job at helping me break out of the "make one food" thought process. Having the simmer sauces in the freezer and how to use them, how to use the tofu recipes in more than just one item, having a trio of bagels that can be frozen ...all of these things and more are what I so appreciate about what you do. I'm working less in the kitchen, but enjoying it more. I feel damn proud when I can pull out a sauce from the freezer and have something good for dinner! Thank you, and here's to a "do less" 2025 and beyond.
I started full-time freelance writing/editing in 2023 after working at newspapers my entire adult life. It's shocking how many damaging ideas about "how to work" still govern my mind every day. This post really yelled at me, in a good way!
That stuff gets in deep doesn’t it? I’m glad you’re working on a better way ❤️
all best for your 2025
Cooking with what I have is this year's thing. I'm losing weight (for my ongoing health and not bc society rewards the slim with their kinder regard) and cooking at home keeps me out of the drive up. I made nachos last night with some seitan chorizo to see if this is something I like enough to learn to make. I did enjoy it, and I can see where it would be worth my while to learn to make bc boy howdy was that small pkg expensive.
Love this! We’re right around the same age, and I’m really feeling your words. I love the Kurt Vonnegut quote “I tell you, we are here on earth to fart around, and don’t let anybody tell you different” :)
Put that on my headstone damnit!
Amen to this! Paid work does not love you back. It does sometime give you more good people to love. Those people stay with you even without the job.
Exactly!
This reminds me a bit of Iris learning to be the "leading lady" in her life instead of the "best friend." Loved that movie (The Holiday) and love this shift towards doing less. :)
You know we just watched this!!!!! Love this comparison
Bravo and thank you. Perfect summary of the issues of many. Less is where I want to go this year.
Less drama. Less stress. Less pushing that boulder up the hill.
More life. More clarity. More value.
I actually told my boss in mid December I intend to refocus on my core duties and do less peripheral stuff that is very clearly “not my job”. Set some better boundaries. And in a week when I return (we Aussies check out for weeks in this silly season), I have to implement that.
But for now, I’m cooking that sensational looking ramen!
Good for you!! Boundaries are crucial for this less plan to work. Cooking is a great way to get to back to the basics.
Preach!! Love your mantra for 2025. It’s how I felt going into 2024, knowing I was retiring early (at 47) to regain some sanity and to just be. My wife and I went on two epic road trips this last year and one of my friend’s boyfriend said “everyday is like a field trip to somewhere cool or interesting for you two!” That pretty much sums up our life now and we are heading into 2025 with more field trips, more adventures, and more liming. Trevor Noah had an interview in which he talked about liming. Which is just being. No need to do shit. His buddies would call him up and ask if he wanted to lime. Which he says it could be just getting together and chilling. Doing nothing. Maybe someone starts chatting or laughing but the whole point is to be with each other and just be. To me, liming is chilling near a river with a big campfire and laughing while eating good food. That’s what makes my heart happy. So here’s to liming more in 2025. Doing the things or not doing anything, but making sure our heart smiles with those we love by our sides. Sending good vibes to you all in 2025. ❤️🔥
Yeah, a big fire, lots of good food, and laughing with friends is my dream evening. Here’s to way more of all of that this year 🥂
This resonated with me so much. I just took two weeks of solid rest and chill and it felt WEIRD. We are around the same age and I think we had a similar experience. The grind chewed me up and spit me out. I’m working on cleaning that all up now.
Yeah I think we’ve lived similar lives and we have all the burn out to prove it. I’m so glad you found some time to rest. Maybe it won’t feel so weird to us one day
It finally doesn’t feel weird…and I have to be back in the office on Tuesday 😂. I did pretty well with it. No meltdowns or craziness just vague sense of unease. I’ll take it! Will never NOT feel like I should be doing something though…
Sometimes, less really is more. Thanks for the reminder.
❤️
Cheers to the new year and doing less! May we move through this year at a pace that allows us to be present in the moments that will linger in our memories for years to come. ❤️
Links please? ❤️
To what?
"Wanna taste? Right this way." But the post ends there...no way to get to recipe.
Doing less improves quality. I can do a million things half-assed. But to truly do quality work, art, relationship, etc. there needs to be less. Thanks for the heads up on this Michelle.
Whole ass only from here on out!
Ahhh I see. The paid recipes go out on Sundays to paid subscribers, hence the link to subscribe. The ramen recipe will be posted tomorrow!
No more feeling guilty for taking time to knit, cook, and read. As a retiree I have finally learned that I am truly the author of my life.
Exactly! The guilt is a killer. No more of that for us in 2025
I’ve been putting out fires I started, and acting like I accomplished something.” WOW! That’s a word!
Thank you so much!
I really felt this today. I have consistently bent over backwards for people who didn't care and would drop me the second something more interesting came along. I will happily support your goal of doing less.
Yes, it’s crazy how that works. That’s one of my favorite moves too. Less for 2025!
Thats fantastic Carolyn. Be as kind to yourself as you clearly are to others. You are important too xx
Thank you for putting into words what I have not been able to do. For me, another thought is the "work smarter not harder" process. And that can apply to our food. You've done a marvelous job at helping me break out of the "make one food" thought process. Having the simmer sauces in the freezer and how to use them, how to use the tofu recipes in more than just one item, having a trio of bagels that can be frozen ...all of these things and more are what I so appreciate about what you do. I'm working less in the kitchen, but enjoying it more. I feel damn proud when I can pull out a sauce from the freezer and have something good for dinner! Thank you, and here's to a "do less" 2025 and beyond.
Yes!!!!! Doing less and enjoying it more is exactly what I want everyone for everyone in the kitchen. I’m so glad it working for you too