March 11, 2024

Dear Reader,

I didn't always like my mom's cooking when I was a kid. I bought my mom a cookbook at a school book fair in 5th grade because I disliked it so much. It was a foolish attempt. Not only was my mom upset, but her cooking didn't change either.

I couldn't do anything else as a child, so I ate what I was given. But in high school, I began to work and had my first taste of money. With no expenses other than my phone bill, I had more than enough money left over to buy all the food I wanted as a teenager.

Seeing that I was eating out a lot, my mom was unhappy again. She started telling me reasons why I should eat her food. It started with complaints about how much effort she put into her cooking, but I didn't take that very well.

Over the following week, her arguments slowly started to shift. She informed me of how unhealthy it was to eat outside, how I had to save money for university, and how people are only meant to eat outside every once in a while. While I didn't care for most of it, in her attempts, she said something that would resonate with me years later.

She said, "Isn't it okay to eat bad-tasting food once in a while? It's a part of life too."

It took me a while to understand, but I think I have it now. A part of my joy and growth comes from appreciating life in its entirety. The bad days are just as much a part of my life as the good days. The beginning is just as much a part of my journey as the end. The shameful moments of my past are just as much a part of my past as the proud moments. It's all a part of who I am and what my life is.

If you currently find yourself frustrated and overwhelmed by your situation in life, try to think about how it fits in the entirety of your life. Remember that this moment, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is still a part of your bigger and very significant life.

Chris X