Flipping through a few pages of my journal, I smiled to myself, entertained by what my innocuous world was like years ago. And then I read words from my 14-year-old self that made me go, “Whoa, no way!” It reminded me of God’s goodness and intentionality with planting passions in our hearts.⠀⠀⠀⠀

If you can’t read chicken scratch (I don’t blame you), here’s what I scribbled — after mastering homemade pop-tarts, no less.⠀⠀

“Hey, maybe I’ll become a culinary chef.”⠀⠀⠀

Though I was helping out in the kitchen by age two, I don’t recall having culinary dreams that extended far beyond my own kitchen. Yes, experimenting with food has been a natural pastime for as long as I can remember. It’s someone’s birthday? I’ve got the cake covered. I loved making “just because” treats (like the aforementioned pop-tarts). I’d walk up to each family member holding a plate that held an extension of my heart, my hopeful eyes watching them take the first bite, while I anticipated their reaction. The joy-filled affirmations were icing on the homemade cake.⠀

Through food, I viscerally saw joy.⠀⠀⠀

And here I as, jetting off to prepare food for others at a retreat — something I stepped into March of last year. Yes, my work in the kitchen looks a bit different these days. With knowledge gained though research and personal experience, I now create nourishing and energizing dishes that bring joy not only in taste, but in how it makes you feel. I’m in the optimizing health business.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

It’s interesting how we “grow up” and youthful dreams get buried under self-inflicted “shoulds” and “that’s-not-meant-for-yous.” Or other duties distract and we turn away from that dream.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

But the things you’re passionate about that bring you into a space that enables flow-state, where time dissipates…those innate passions? I think God gifts each of us with a few of those. Perhaps there’s a passion or two you’d like to blow the dust off of?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

It makes sense, now that I look back at what my 14-year-old reminded me of. It’s in alignment with all I aim to embody this side of heaven — to serve, to love like Jesus, to create meaningful art, to provide nourishment, to spur people on in a tangible way, and to have someone leave better than they came.

I’m so grateful for those who’ve entrusted me with preparing nourishing dishes for their events this past year, and I’m so excited to further enter this adventurous culinary space.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

As an avid outdoor enthusiast, I’ve come to find that many of life’s most enriching adventures settle in the simple moments. And I approach food in a similar way — with simplicity, intuition, and joy.

…by the way, check out the last line in my journal. My sister Rachel and I were (are?) wild ones.

-smb