The Kitchn Cure Day 20: A Return to a Sit and a List

The Kitchn Cure Day 20: Have a sit and make a list.
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Why, hello! Here we are on the final day of the Cure. Congratulations! I hope your Cure has been beneficial; bringing you closer to, and more happy with, your kitchen. At the very least it is cleaner, and cleaner — while not everything — is a good place to start. Before we end, let’s come full circle and spend a final, quiet moment in our kitchen. So grab that chair and find that notebook and let’s head in.

Just as we did on day 1, find a few minutes when you won’t be disturbed. Sit in the chair and take a few slow breaths. After you feel settled, look around, simply observing and taking in your kitchen. Try to avoid spinning a long narrative about what you see and just go for a quiet state of observation. Do this for a few minutes, returning to a few slow breaths if you find that your thoughts are too fast and busy.

Then, as you did on day 1, write down the words that come to mind. Don’t censor yourself, just write them down. When you’re done, make yourself a cup of tea or pour yourself a glass of water (or maybe even a celebratory glass of wine, if you’re so inclined!) and take a look at your list of words from day 1 again. What, if anything, has changed? Do you feel differently? Is your relationship to your kitchen different? Don’t look so much for signs of improvement or a whole new better you. This isn’t about trying to measure up; we’re just looking for shifts and changes.

Take a look at your likes and dislikes list — has anything changed there? Were we able to address some of the things that have been keeping you from enjoying your kitchen? This like/dislike list is important because being reminded of the things we like reinforces our choices and gives us confidence to move forward. It also encourages appreciation and delight, which is always helpful. And seeing our dislikes, bringing them out of the shadows and into the program, means we can deal with them in a no-nonsense, constructive way. Our dislikes are simply information, a place to work from to bring the changes we need.

Thank you, everyone, for coming along with me on this Cure. I’ve very much enjoyed your company and your comments and observations, and have learned a lot from what you’ve shared with us. I hope you’re up for one final comment — please let us know how this final exercise went for you, or how the Cure was for you in general this year.

And finally, I hope there is some aspect of this month-long intensive you can bring into your daily kitchen routine. Whether it’s taking a tea break, or keeping on top of sharpening your knives, or working on your Super Magical Power Pantry, remember that it’s the everyday application of attention and appreciation that brings true happiness to your kitchen. Just pause, take a breath, and bring yourself back into the present. Find your feet on the ground and open up to your surroundings. Don’t worry, there’s almost always something to appreciate there, even if it doesn’t show itself immediately. Just keep aware and observant and, I promise, the beauty and appreciation will find you.

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