COLUMN - Recently, a friend asked me to share one of my fondest memories involving food. To my surprise, something quite contrary to what I'm used to, the first memory that popped into my head was one of my worst food experiences.
This made me pause and think: Why? It amazes me how much easier it can be to recall the bad things that happen in our lives, rather than the finer moments that help to shape who we are.
When reflecting on this past year, can you identify the special moments that bring a smile to your face? Can you look fondly at all of the wonderful memories created amid challenging moments?
Fostering a deep appreciation for life's good is something too often overlooked. Despite all the difficult challenges, from high traffic volumes, floods to draughts, busy shops, long queues, empty shelves, fuel hikes to load shedding and an influx of people changing our cities – it can often be hard for us not to complain or “camp” in negative talk.
Let’s challenge ourselves to seek out another perspective, a good one. I believe that leaving the “negative campsite” starts with an attitude of gratitude. One of the best ways to become more grateful is to start a gratitude journal.
A gratitude journal is simply a place where you can write down things that you are thankful for. The act of taking time each day to reflect on the things that you are grateful for can help to increase your overall levels of happiness and satisfaction with life. Additionally, gratitude journals can be a great way to deal with stress and negative emotions. Whenever you are feeling down, you can simply look back through your journal and be reminded of all the good things in your life.
Tips for making the most of your gratitude journal: - Set aside sometime each day specifically for writing in your journal. This will help ensure it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle of your everyday life. - Write down as many different things as possible.
The more specific, the better! - Be honest with yourself. If you’re having trouble thinking of things that you’re grateful for, take a step back and think about the positive aspects of your life, even if they seem small.
- Don’t be afraid to re-read old entries from time to time. This can be a great way to boost your mood on days when you’re feeling down.
If you asked me the same question today, a beautiful memory of my family and friends around a campfire immediately comes to mind. The laughter and warmth radiating through the night that only a braai can bring. We cooked up stokbrood, spread through with warm butter and syrup. It felt like food fit for royalty
