For the Love of Tofu
For the Love of Tofu!
Despite all that I preach about eating nutrient dense foods and having an open mind, I admit that I am not the most adventurous eater. I venture out with variations of my regular protein, fruits, and veggies, but aside from that…I press the pause button. Until this summer, when my daughter started bringing home a vegan sandwich from our local bakery. She would say, “just give it a try…. tofu on sourdough with avocado, you are MISSING out. I PROMISE you will like it!!!” Finally, I gave in, and let me tell you, it melted in my mouth. I turned to her, “is THIS tofu? It’s delicious!!!!!” So, we began experimenting with tofu for dinner (I am particularly hooked on this recipe). Turns out she was right: I had been missing out.
Sometimes you just have to be in the right place at the right time to try something new. Recently I experienced just this. After a year of soul searching, podcast listening on reinvention, and self-help book reading, one thing became clear: my life felt all too monotonous. Let’s face it, I was in a rut, and I knew I had to feel uncomfortable to make my way out.
I took a leap and redid my resume, shifted my mindset, and thought (for a long time) about what I wanted my life to look like for the next chapter. I found a new part-time job, and I feel a bit more like myself after a few weeks. I gave myself permission to have a taste of something new out there, and although it’s out of my comfort zone, it is what I need right now to find my confidence and footing. There’s no right path at our age, but there are steps along the way that we can take to help us navigate through some really rocky times.
If you, too, are feeling stuck or staring out the window wondering what the heck is happening… here are a few ideas to think about:
If you’re not sure what to try, think small! Try part-time or volunteer. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or reach out for support. Sometimes just hearing a loved one say to you, “keep going, it’s great, don’t stop…” is all you need to follow through with something new and different.
Keep a journal with notes and thoughts. Found a podcast that was inspiring? Jot it down to refer to the conversation at a later time. Had a networking coffee with someone insightful? Jot down a few notes about why they were interesting.
Persevere and keep going. Try not to let the less than unproductive days get in your way. One foot in front of the other will lead to somewhere…, and it just may not be where you thought.
Keep your yoga mat handy. Yoga will improve your flexibility, increase your strength, help with your posture, and reduce stress. Most importantly, yoga will just make you happier.
I hope these thoughts inspired you in some way. If you need support, reach out…happy to lend an ear because if there’s one thing I know for sure, we aren’t meant to go through this life alone.
