[Mindful Meals Note #05] The Story of How My 'Selfishness' Became 'Mindful Meals'

I named this 'Mindful Meals Note' to document the rules and thoughts behind my meal preparation.

While I am now able to view daily cooking in a positive light under the name 'Mindful Meals,' that was not the case for me in the past.
Today, I'd like to share that story.

I live in a family of four.
Every day, while making dinner,

'Why is it always me?'
'I have to shop, cook, and clean up—it's so hard!'
'Must be nice to just relax on the sofa and watch TV!'

Dissatisfaction was always smoldering inside my heart.

'You guys just come home and eat when the food is ready. Must be nice!'
I've muttered things like that more than once or twice (laughs).
(Each time, the atmosphere would get awkward, and I'd regret it.)

Is cooking spiritual!?

One day, a friend who works in the spiritual field said this to me:

'What are you talking about! You have cooking, don't you, Aki?'
'Cooking is about creating the things you want to eat.'
'That is a very spiritual thing, and'
'I think it means you are fulfilling your own desires.'

It was a shock.

'Was I fulfilling my own desires through cooking?'
Ever since I realized that, my way of thinking has changed significantly.

Selfishness is fine! Cooking 'for myself'

Until then, I was conscious of making food that looked good on social media,
or prioritizing my family's preferences.
Yes, I felt I had to do it 'for someone else.'

But when I changed my mindset to 'for myself' and 'because I want to do it,'
cooking, which had been full of obligation, became fun.

Because 'I' want to eat these ingredients seasoned this way,
because 'I' am happy if someone who saw it on social media is pleased,
because 'I' am happy if my family eats it deliciously saying they love it.

I realized that just by changing the direction of the arrow ever so slightly,
my feelings could change this much!

It's all 'for me.'
This might be selfish.

But this was exactly what 'self-care' was.

I often hear phrases like 'fulfilling yourself' or 'self-care,' but

Going to a slightly expensive cafe to relax,
eating a slightly luxurious cake by myself,
or buying something expensive as a treat.

That was the image I had.
But, it was different.

Buying fresh, seasonal vegetables that make me think, 'Wow, these look delicious,'
trying out flavors I want to cook,
or when I think, 'I want to plate this beautifully and take a picture,' taking care with the presentation and bringing out the camera.

There were ways to easily 'take care of myself' in my immediate daily life.

And I realized that for me,
cooking was the ultimate tool to satisfy myself.

The 60-minute rule is also to secure free time.

'Mindful Meals' My Rule 1
Finish dinner within 60 minutes (by 7:00 PM).

This is also a selfish rule born to satisfy myself.

In the evening, once work settles down (since I often work from home),
the time from then until I start cooking is completely free time.

Sometimes I take a nap on the sofa, watch TV,
or read a book, spending my free time.

Until then, once work settled down, I would feel restless and start cooking, but I stopped doing that!

Just by deciding 'I will only stand in the kitchen after 6:00 PM,'
I was able to create free time.
Even though I call it free time, I'm often busy with my own work, but just deciding not to do housework makes me feel at ease.
(Especially when I'm doing video editing, time just melts away)

'Mindful Meals' born from selfishness

Writing it out like this,
'Mindful Meals' is the culmination of my selfishness (laughs).

But selfishness is about revealing your true self.
I realized that is a very important thing.

The actual 'Mindful Meals' look like this (laughs).

On this day, I didn't feel very motivated, so I stood in the kitchen around 6:15.
- Potato salad made in a pressure cooker
- Grilled chicken wings and lotus root (seasoned like spicy chicken)
- Tomato namul (cut tomatoes, seasoned with sesame oil, seaweed, and soy sauce)
- Nukazuke (pickled eggplant, cucumber, bell pepper)
If you want to eat, help yourself to white rice (reheated cold rice)
(I'm having beer!)

That's how it was.

I'm sorry that even though I'm a culinary expert, it's not proper at all.
But this was the 'Mindful Meal' that set me right for the day.

I wish I had plated it more beautifully,
I wish I had taken the photos a bit more properly,

♪ I showed it just as it is ♪ (a bit too many syllables)
So, (laughs) please forgive me!

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