Going into this week, I decided to keep this theme of food going for just a bit longer because why not?

If it were up to me, there wouldn’t only be five love languages, because food would be the sixth.

It’s likely that if I’m eating breakfast, I’m already thinking of what I’m going to have for lunch and dinner. Some people say they only eat for nourishment, but I eat for enjoyment as well. Not only can you get to try new recipes and expand your palate, but sharing a meal with a loved one is another opportunity to create memories and strengthen your bond with them.

Ever since I moved out on my own, I’ve obviously had to add cooking more often to my to do list. I know my way around the kitchen pretty well, but I usually stick to the basics so I don’t always branch out. 

Being on my own has allowed me to not only try new recipes, but also lean on the people closest to me to share their recipes as well. The person that sticks out to me the most is my mother.

Out of the many things my mom can do, throwing it down in the kitchen may be one of her top five skills. Even my father who has tried to replicate some of her recipes will still say there are things he simply cannot do the way she does. 

I think every mother has that touch when it comes to cooking, they have a certain knowledge and intuition when it comes to making certain meals that others can’t ever figure out. 

In December of last year, I had surprised my mother down in Florida for her birthday and while I was there, I made it a point for her to show me how to make one of her best dishes, pollo guisado (or chicken stew). 

I know that having her teach me how to make her pollo guisado was a treat for the both of us. Fast forward to today, I’ll send her pictures to show her how the dish came out, or let her know how I probably could have made it better. Hopefully one day, I can make it as good as she does (or at least come pretty close). 

While it’s such a simple dish, this has always been a meal that feels like home so it was important for me to learn how to make it. Not only for my own benefit, but for my future children as well. 

As we get older, we start to realize how fragile and quick life is. Time goes by so fast that we can barely grasp it, and everyone is getting older around us. I don’t think anyone prepares you to accept your older family members getting older either, whether it be parents or grandparents. It truly makes you cherish those texts, phone calls, and quality time more than you did when you were younger. 

As our family members get older, it’s likely that traditions that they introduced fall to the wayside. Cultures evolve and generations pass, so it’s important now more than ever to take responsibility to keep traditions alive. Lifestyles adjust and language barriers are created, that it’s almost impossible to live your roots unless there’s a conscious effort to do so. We all have things from our upbringings and cultures that we may not necessarily agree with, but there’s always a handful of things that ground you and bring you back to the truth of yourself. 

This is something I’ve been trying to work on throughout my day, even if it’s uncomfortable at first. It’s very easy to just blend in with what’s around you, but what stands out more is leaning into those facets about yourself that are authentic and everlasting. Whether it’s a cultural recipe, a family tradition, a genre of music or movies, or something you had growing up that you just love so much, save it. Cherish it. Lean into those things every now and then when your current reality may not be as supportive as you would like. 

I know when I’m having a rough day and things seem to not go my way, I fall back on those childhood favorites that ground me and center me. Whether it’s a nostalgic movie or whipping up a dish that my parents would make for me, I always get brought back to myself. 

So whenever you think of a family member or close friend that awakens that feeling within you, lean into it, and see how you can bring that into your everyday life. If it’s with going to a physical place, make the trip. If it’s listening to something, play the song. If it’s with food, save the recipe.