So, I’m back and – touch wood – that’s the last major trip of the year.
I know that’s unlikely and I appreciate this is a massive first world problem, but I’ve had enough of long haul for this year.
How bizarre that when we first moved to NZ, I thought that was going to be the end of my life on planes and yet it seems to have become even more extreme – albeit when you live on the other side of the world, everywhere is an inconvenience, ha.
Anyway, as it’s the first day back, I thought I’d ease you [and me] back into the stupidity of this blog and to do that I want to talk about Anthony Bourdain.
Just to be clear, I am not saying he was stupid.
And even if he was, he’d do it in such a magnificent and generous way, we’d all be thanking him for it.
But the reality is he did appreciate the importance of enjoying life. That as much as there are a lot of expectations and pressures placed upon us, doing all we can to find the space to taste a bit of everything is important – best exemplified by this piece of his writing.
Eat at a local restaurant tonight.
Get the cream sauce.
Have a cold pint at 4 o’clock in a mostly empty bar.
Go somewhere you’ve never been.
Listen to someone you think may have nothing in common with you.
Order the steak rare.
Eat an oyster.
Have a Negroni.
Have two.
Be open to a world where you may not understand or agree with the person next to you, but have a drink with them anyways.
Eat slowly.
Tip your server.
Check in on your friends.
Check in on yourself.
Enjoy the ride.
The thing that few talk about is how hard it was for him to learn this.
How long it took him to understand this.
Which is why – as brilliant and valuable as it is – making sure we teach this to kids is arguably even more important than waiting till everyone is an adult.
And that explains why I adored this piece of writing from American author, Kurt Vonnegut.
In a world of seriousness, trying stuff – for the sheer pleasure of trying stuff – may be the most sensible way to ensure you get to live a life rather than are worn down by it.
