Well, just like that, we blink and 2018 is ova! The end of the year comes quicker and quicker each year, so much so that it is no big deal and I take it like a champ lol. Come year’s end I used to beat myself up, and reflect upon all that had not changed, and all that I had not accomplished. Serve all that on top of my naturally nostalgic self, and NYE is always a big ol’ party…pity-party, that is! But not this year. I have accomplished so much this year, I have worked so hard this year, and I have grown from and learned from the things that I have not accomplished, or mistakes that I have made. So this NYE, I may still be nostalgic, but I will not be hosting my pity-party. I decided that I am going list a few of the highlights from 2018, professionally and personally; they may seem miniscule to you, but to me, they mean a lot.
1. At the start of 2018, I stumbled across a “wish list” (from a few years back) for EYHOE, and it read, “Have five PC clients per week.” I read this and chuckled, because these days there are some weeks that I wish that I had only five clients per week, because most weeks I have seven or eight! I have been so busy working, working, working, (translate: cooking, cooking, cooking) that I have not had a second to sit back and see just how far I have come, how I have built my business; the things I once dreamed, prayed and wished for, I now have. I am blessed.
2. This Christmas was the first holiday in years that my entire family was together. The past few years have been rough, and I am very grateful to have all my siblings, healthy and together, not just for the holidays, but also for most of 2018!
3. You have been warned, here comes a humble brag! I am really proud of myself for making the time and having the guts to try my hand at comedy this past summer, and to have had 5 minutes of open mic time in front of a crowd. Yes it was friends/family, but who cares, they laughed, and laughed hard! It took a lot of time and dedication outside of work (which was the point, to get me out of the kitchen and back to my first love, the stage). I was really nervous, but oh my, the high I got from making the crowd laugh, it was incredible, and a definite highlight of 2018 for me! ICYMI, you can catch my act here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QICfEjR8l5w&t=9s
4. This is a silly one, but I still get goose bumps when I think of it. One of my all-time fav comedians, John Crist responded to a private Instagram message that I sent him. In August, I saw John perform in Philly, and had the pleasure of seeing him across the street, and I snatched a pic with him. The next day I sent him the photo, thanked him for a great show, and told him how I have a new-found respect for comedy. Well, an hour or so later, as I was working out, I heard my phone go off, and I thought it was a text but it was a message from JOHN! I totally fan-girled out, not only was I shocked that he took the time to read my message, and respond, but we also conversed with two more messages! Like he was a real person talking to me – does that make sense?! Gah!! So cool! Check out his website: http://www.johncristcomedy.com/
5. Now I told you I was going to get personal….but this year I healed myself of hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA). I am sure most of you do not know what this is, Google it lol. But due to an overabundance of stress, the past two years have not been the most peachy for me. I tend to think that I am resilient to everything, and that the weeks and weeks (maybe years?!) of working into the wee hours of the night, not sleeping, getting up to work out (before spending 12 hours on my feet) and some days not even taking time to feed myself, would not catch up to me. Well I was wrong, and I now regret every minute of self-care that I did not take. But I am happy to say that I am on the road to recovery, and this coming year, I will strive to not be so type A (that is SO hard for me!) and to find more of work-life balance. It is hard, because I truly do love what I do…so sometimes it does not feel like “work” for me, but apparently my body disagrees.
6. I saved the best for last 🙂 . I am almost embarrassed to admit this, esp. since I have been cooking for so long, but never too late to learn something new, right? After about seven years of making “riced” cauliflower, and never recommending freezing it, I had a light bulb moment. I realized if I roasted the cauliflower (with or without oil) that the moisture will bake right out, and the cauli will dry out. So I tried it, roasted and then “riced” the cauliflower (ran cauliflower through food processor) and the glorious product that was produced was almost as exciting as when I received that message from John lol. Since learning this new (well new to me) trick, I have received rave feedback from clients saying just how yummy all their RC dishes have been…little did they know, that I am just as pleased and surprised as they are. Read more about my cauliflower epiphany in this blog post: https://eatyourheartoutedibles.com/crazy-for-cauliflower-roasted-riced-cauliflower/
So there ya have it, my highlights of 2018. If you really read over them, as I said, they are small accomplishments, moments, to say the least; some of things that I “accomplished” should have actually been happening all along, but it is all how you look at life. Life is really hard, but I am forever grateful for the little things, for my health, for friends and my family who choose to love and support me every day, and for you all! What would I do without the support and business from my lovely clients and friends?!
Thank you all and cheers to a happy, healthy, prosperous and tasty 2019.
