This Little Light of Mine

I've listened to her recitation every day since Wednesday and I am not yet done.

Be inspired.

Be brave.

Be the light.

Amanda Gorman's "The Hill We Climb" via The Guardian

Heart to Start

My last book of the year was Dare to Lead by Brené Brown with a side of her podcast Unlocking Us. She encourages “Strong Backs, Soft Fronts, and Wild Hearts”. This phrase combined with reminders on vulnerability and living our values helped close out 2020 for me. I think I’m still too close to the year to think about how I may have changed as a result of all the world's happenings and 230 days of obligatory quarantine (followed by the current voluntary) but I know there is growth and learning in everything if we allow that. 

I'm on a streak of 42 weeks (and counting) cooking all our meals (save two asado dinners where I only made desserts). There are pickled peppers and pickled beets with eggplants in escabeche in the fridge. I added flour and corn tortillas along with pita to my arsenal of breads from both the US and Argentina. I returned to making strawberry jam, and I make my own ice cream with a hand mixer. 

There was the disappointment (and disgusting flavor) of soured ricotta squares discovered only while eating them* but there was also the joy of finding pecans only a couple blocks away.  

Challenges and gratitude peppered the year. Laughter stapled it together. 

So on this first day of the new year, I look to 2021 with an open heart, full of gratitude, with a stronger spine from 2020 and my heart as wild as ever.

*The masa frola was still okay so that was the upside for a snack.