October 2009 . Chicken Pot Pie
This month marks a small but personal milestone. I’ve spent the past months writing elusive and circular blog posts, things that don’t offer much substance aside from the inviting pictures and occasional recipe. My reasons vary from my desire to maintain privacy to my inability to translate random musings into concrete stories to sheer laziness. So in an attempt to step out of my comfort zone, here goes…
I’ve been thinking about where I started, the path I’ve taken, and the future unknown and find that at this moment, of all the chapters in my book of life, nothing quite compares to my time in San Francisco. I never expected my life to transform into what it is now. When I moved here, I didn’t have anything or know anyone. I wasn’t sure I would make it living out here, but each passing day proves to be another magical moment. I’ve experienced hard life-changing moments–moments that made me think about packing my bags, calling it quits, and going home. Then I think about the remarkable times I’ve had and couple it with the amazing lessons I’ve learned.
My most recent lesson learned–and also most difficult to articulate–quite appropriately relates to food. I was so consumed with bandaging my predicaments with superficial happiness that I failed to realize that it was only temporary and that I was heading down a chaotic road. I’ve since made choices (both hard and scary) to rectify the situation and now have a better outlook and quality of life. Though some of my friends don’t quite understand (partly because it’s hard for me to find the right words), they support me and are my personal cheerleaders. As circumstances should happen, I opened my Google Reader this morning and found two articles that I was able to relate to. Even though my situation doesn’t compare, former food critic, Ed Murrieta and food blogger Leslie Kelly share such inspiring stories of eating on a budget. (and they’ve both managed to explain the things that I’ve found so difficult to say)
Without getting into the details of how and why I chose to cut back, I must admit that it’s been uplifting. I look forward to simple pleasures such as early morning strolls to the farmer’s market and home cooked meals (though I still love the SF food scene). I enjoy giving back to my community by volunteering at many local non-profits and hope that I’m able to make a positively impact at any level. My motivations are altruistic and for that I’m deeply satisfied and fulfilled.
I still have the occasional notion that I’m a small fish in the big sea, but I’m content knowing that each moment in San Francisco was–and is worth it. Will I ever leave this city? At one point, I contemplated a life far, far away. If so, where would I end up?
The answer: that’s for tomorrow to tell.
[...] Tomorrow told me: “Go home. Visit friends and family, but don’t stay too long. There’s a [...]