Cooking for good

Cooking used to feel like another task on the list at the end of a long workday, maybe approached with speed and efficiency to get little satisfaction by saving time.

Lockdown changed that routine. More time at home meant the kitchen stopped being just a place to prepare something quickly before moving on to the next obligation. Curiosity slowly appeared. New recipes showed up on the counter, unfamiliar ingredients started filling the fridge, and cooking began to take a little more time.

It sounds like the plot of a movie, or at least this was my impression when I sopke about it during a sex coaching session where I was expecting to talk more about my intimacy. I had a little disengaged reaction the first time my coach mentioned the topic and I felt we were wasting time for something that was irrelevant to the session.

When we spoke again about I realised there was more to talk, paying attention to how I did necessary routine everyday focusing on time efficiency was a good hint of my approach to my intimacy as well. I decided to trust the therapy and embrace my cooking skills. I can still feel the awkwardness of taking the time to observe the bright aromas released by fresh herbs when chopped. Vegetables adding color to the cutting board. The repetitive rhythm of slicing and stirring creating a calm pace that made the experience slower and more in control.

Preparing food gradually stopped feeling mechanical. Small adjustments mattered more than before. The timing of heat, the balance of ingredients, and the patience required for flavors to develop all influenced the final result. I wouldn't say I transformed into a chef or food fanatic but waiting became part of the process. Letting ingredients combine properly or allowing a sauce to thicken created a stronger connection with the outcome. The first bite carried a quiet satisfaction that was missing when meals were rushed.

Cooking slowly turned into a small ritual rather than a duty. Not complicated or elaborate, just a moment during the day when attention and care made a visible difference. Maybe not surprisingly for my coach the habit of observing ingredients, timing, and small adjustments also started to influence other areas of life. Curiosity replaced routine in places that had previously felt automatic.