✨ joyscrolling ✨ (and other cool things)
Happy Friday!
It’s been a chaotic week in the U.S. with inspiring and wonderful news stories to harrowing, disturbing actions happening in communities across the country.
From hopescrolling to doomscrolling, I feel like I am at my max and today I wanted to think about the beautiful and wonderfully joyful things happening in the world of food, history, and culture.
Not because the other stuff isn’t important, because it is. But because it is times when we are shaken to our core that we need to remember and relish the wonders of the world, the art that inspires, and the connections that we make.
And since you might be at your max too, I invite you to reflect on this quote from Audre Lorde an incredible Black, lesbian, feminist, socialist, mother, warrior, poet (as she described herself) who said:
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” — Audrey Lorde
At the core of this are Lorde’s identities. When the world is not built for you, because you are a person of color, LGBTQ+, or a woman (not to mention all of the above), you need to take care of yourself.
If your life, your identity, and your existence have been called into question this week, I hope this brings you a bit of joy.
Take care of yourselves and make good trouble!
Here are some things that I found inspiring, interesting, and just plain cool this week*…
*yes, some of these are also some of my greatest hits from previous emails
😋 How to (and Why) Savor Your Food
This article is on the importance of pleasure, mindfulness, and slowing down. It’s something we talk a lot about here at MFC (partially because I frequently need reminders myself even though all I do 24/7 is think about food).
Food is fuel, yes.
BUT that doesn’t mean it doesn’t ignite the senses, spark memories, draw people closer together, speak to history and meaning, etc. etc. This article has a great few exercises on how to better savor your food.
The thing that resonated most with me? WHY we should savor our food.
“Allowing ourselves to have food is a radical act when we’re told most of our lives that our pleasure is gluttonous.” — Alexis Conason
Savoring our food deepens our experience and pleasure — not only with the food itself, but also with our existence. It’s about living life in the present moment. About improving your mood and stepping away from the stress of the news cycle. And it’s about improving your relationship with yourself and others.
✨ Savoring food is not just about food, it’s about savoring LIFE! ✨
🥘 The Largest FREE Food Hall in the World
Serving more than 100,000 people per day, this kitchen is located in India’s Sikh Golden Temple and has served meals everyday for over 400 years!!!
This is such a powerful reminder of how incredible humans can be when they take care of one another. 🤩
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🙏 A Thank You Can Go A LOOOONG Way
One author’s quest to thank everyone who helped make his morning coffee possible — from a local barista to the man who invented his coffee cup lid to the farmers who grew the coffee beans.
“That little moment of connection is so important to both people’s humanity and happiness.” - A.J. Jacobs
I loved how this TED Talk highlights how interconnected we all are and sparks more wonder about the objects that show up in our daily lives. ☕️
🇿🇼 Food is a Love Language
A heartwarming video of sharing traditional Zimbabwe cuisine with a friend who hadn’t eaten it in decades.
Food is a way of showing care for a friend, of connecting with cultural heritage, of creating memories.
💗 How can you show care, connect, or create memories this weekend?
Done with uncertainty? 🔮 Predict the future from your kitchen!
Not just tea leaves, you can predict the future with cabbages, eggs, nuts, apples, and onions too! Check out this article that I thought was just pure interesting about the ancient art of kitchen divination.
Lmk if you divine something better than 👇🏽
Stay curious and stay inspired!
Rachel
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