You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give. —E. O. Wilson
“You are capable of more than you know.”
It seems each day I am met by more and more challenges. Most of the tasks I do not know how to do. However, I am determined to get through and get it figured out (or come up with a creative “Plan B”).
I have in my bio (if you happened to have read it) that I cannot cook a roux. (That is one of those “pre-requisites” to being a “true Cajun”.) One day, I decided that I was tired of not knowing, and that I was going to cook a roux. So, I looked up several recipes, decided on what I thought would be best and went to town stirring…and stirring…and stirring. My neighbor happened to stopped by and encouraged me to “keep stirring”. “Cook it until you think you’re gonna burn it, then cook it some more!”, she said. So I did. And would you believe it? I cooked a roux…that made a delicious pot of gumbo.
“Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist.”
The unfortunate part of the story is that I also got a severe burn on my fingers during the boiling process. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life. (I still have a scar…it is likely that I always will.) It will always remind me that I CAN do whatever I set my mind to doing, And so can you, my friend. . It just may have some painful lessons along the way. My roux did not just come together as easily as I had hoped…but it DID come together. I felt like I stirred for just short of eternity. My arms and hands both ached from that round-and-round motion. My husband stepped in a few times and gave me a break and kept stirring so the hot liquid would not scorch. When I burned my hand, he immediately jumped into action and kept the pot stirring, so I could take care of my hand. When I had recovered a little bit, I painfully pressed on toward my final goal.
Spicy turkey and sausage gumbo…made with roux
“The world needs all you can give”
Okay, so the world maybe does not need ‘all I can give’, but I do have something to give. And so do you. A lot of people were able to enjoy that warm, spicy gumbo. Because I had worked so hard to make the gumbo, it gave me personal satisfaction to be able to provide a yummy meal for them. (When I saw everyone savoring the freshly made gumbo, it made my burn not feel quite so traumatic.)
I know that cooking something “new” is not a huge or daunting task to some. But for me, it was something I have feared trying for years (like using yeast in baking)! I guess what I am saying is find something that is a “challenge” for you…and set out to accomplish it. Do not do it half-heartedly or with reservation…go for it! I love how Mark Twain says it,
“Why not go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is.”
Your challenge is…
- choose a goal
- Determine to see it to completion (regardless of the challenges you may face on the journey)
- Then, surround yourself with people who will encourage you and press you on toward your final goal. (For me, it is also important to encourage others along in their journeys.)
If you do not give up, one day you will be able to enjoy the “fruits of your labors”.
Have a great week!
And I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please leave some feedback!
Heidi
PS) I will be changing my bio…I CAN cook a roux.