Soulful Sundays

One day while on a run I started concocting a list of what, I thought, would make for a good Sunday. I quickly gave it the name “Soulful Sunday” because that’s the way I think; in names and titles and words. I also wonder if it functions as a memory device, catchy phrase as content anchor. Regardless, I feel this list could just as easily be called “Social Distancing Sunday” or “Self-Isolating Sunday” or “Self-Quarantining Sunday” (to be 1 day of 7 each week to enact those higher level practices until further notice). [Seriously, stay home. This shit is real. It has a fatality rate potentially 4x the flu and an exponential contagion curve with a lagging discovery plus the potential for asymptomatic carriers. That is not a fun party. Don’t be Patient 31.]

It is an evolving list, but here is what I have so far:

• Set beans to soaking (coffee and dried)
• Bake bread (a.k.a. Sourdough Sundays)
• Go for a run
• Do a longer yoga practice
• Long meditation sit
• Read some poetry
• Write something
• Cook and meal prep
• Get outside

Pick, choose, add your own, and give it a shot. Let me know how it goes.

What Has Me Curious Right Now

What skills/habits/rituals/norms will we cultivate during this time of uncertainty that we will decide to maintain when we (hopefully) emerge on the other side? What changes will we make that will prove to be less temporary?

I feel I’ve seen more people out enjoying the streets and open areas of my neighborhood lately. More people engaging with those around instead of staying in their own head or tight grouping (with proper social distancing practiced, of course). Less people wandering the stores, and, perhaps, planning ahead a little more when it comes time to shopping and meal planning.

We are experiencing a time where it is the small things that matter. The quotidian distracts, engages, consumers, and, potentially, entertains us. Where we have to make due with what we have in front of us.

Yes, we still have the internet. But there is predominantly one channel playing on social media and news outlets, a conversational pandemic. We can binge watch for only so long, right?

We have an opportunity before us. We may have received it through less than desirable means. But we have a chance to build a nice little life for ourselves. That we can selectively layer on to when the wide world is opened back up to us. We have had the reset button pressed for us. What will we do with it?

I have discovered the benefits of having easy and tasty building blocks around for quickly creating dishes. It’s reminded me of one of my favorite dishes growing up, this pasta concoction of my mom’s. It followed a template but never a recipe: noodles, meat, veg, cheese, olive oil. It was always a winner and whenever we said it was delicious she’d say “Great! Enjoy it, because you’ll probably never have it again.” Which is rather zen, do you ever truly have the same meal twice?

I plan to continue this pantry stocking and cooking practice as it cuts down on time and indecision, seems pretty cost effective, and it’s fun to be back creating in the kitchen without a recipe and with delicious results. Next week I’ll report back on some of these experiments and my notes on some of the recipes I’ve shared.

What I’m Making This Week

• Rustic Sourdough Bread
• Mushroom Stock
• Summer Heirloom Bean Casserole.
• Asparagus & Meyer Lemon Risotto from Tal Ronnen’s The Conscious Cook
• Off the Cuff Soup with the mushrooms from the stock, tomato-y beans, blanched asparagus, and a little bean broth