Being innovative over the holidays can be a bit of a task, can’t it? Everyone has their own traditions that simply *must* happen from year to year and we all like our potatoes, or cranberry sauce or vegetables prepared a very particular way. Otherwise, it just isn’t Christmas, am I right?
There’s something valuable in tradition. But there’s also something valuable in adding a few new ingredients each year. Take pizza for instance. I know, not very Yuletidy, but stick with me for a second.
Pizza is as classic and traditional to the American diet (odd, considering it’s Italian) as a good cheeseburger or bottle of coke. It’s one of the quintessential meals that defines comfort. Any day, any time, pizza tastes good. At the same time, however, pizza defies a standard recipe. In actuality, there IS no recipe. Sure, there’s a general rule that bread and cheese should be there, and fair enough. It gives us a basis from which to work create. But after that? Well, it’s entirely open for taste.
From the myriad of toppings from meat to vegetables to fruit to nuts, to the sauce or lack thereof. Not to mention the array of cheese varieties you can finish it off with including goat, sheep or cow (and all the variations within each of those categories). And of course, you can always drizzle with olive oil, chili and garlic oil, balsamic reduction, honey, chocolate sauce, or salted caramel, depending on the course. The possibilities of pizza are endless.
So you see, pizza is a lot like the holidays – there are a few standards that guide us like dates, twinkly lights and in my family, alcohol (and lots of it!), but other than that, it’s open for interpretation. So what does this have to do with goals or resolutions? I’m glad you asked.
I recently listened to a podcast (which was originally inspired by this blog post). The basic gist is that resolutions just don’t cut the pizza. How many times have you made a resolution about what you “should” do next year and it just didn’t last more than a couple of months? I “should” go to the gym; I “should” spend more time painting and being creative; I “should” eat less cookies or drink less wine. Should, should, should, should, should. Even if the resolutions states “I will…” The “will” gets replaced by “should” in every day conversation. Should isn’t doing. Should, frankly, just shouldn’t.
Instead, I’m setting goals.
Specific ones. And using this tool to help me. By planning my goals and living an intentioned life – one that is full of doing – we’re going to break the yearly habitual resolution fail and live intentionally. Innovatively. Successfully.
Think about it like this… If I resolve to cook more, all that really means is that I should cook more because I said I would. BUT, if I set a goal to experiment with one recipe, focus on one ingredient, or hone one cooking method a week, I already have certain things that HAVE to happen. I need to do some research to see what’s been done, make sure I have the needed tools, and schedule that time. All of that can be broken down into individual yet cohesive plans that will make my kitchen adventure into a success.
I’m making goals. Not resolutions. And I think you should too. Be your best inspiration. Be innovative. Be conscious.
Keep Eating! Keep Innovating!
What are your new years goals? Agree with my ideas here? Disagree? Let us know all about it in the comments or on Facebook.
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