It was a go, go, go kind of Monday. These seem to be the norm right now and I’m not complaining about the pace. I managed to squeeze in time to make a hearty vegetarian chili from a recipe Nicholas gave me after they made it at school in health class last fall. I remember being impressed that they were learning the difference between fake/processed food and whole foods and cooked the chili in class.
When it came time for our late dinner, it turned out I loved it but the rest of the family….well, not so much. I have learnt over the years to not let that interfere with my good intentions. I chopped each onion, pepper, zucchini and clove of garlic with love. I stirred the mixture as it bubbled on the stove with love. I served it up in bowls and handed it out with love. What they left behind and how they chose to rate the chili; that was not a reflection of me or my cooking, but their own tastes and way of being. I savored every bite, enjoying the warmth and home-style goodness that gets lost some days in meals contained within easy to open packages. I hope all moms who make the time to create a healthy meal that turns out less appealing to her audience does the same.
Not all acts of love will be reciprocated with the same love and the only way it hurts or bothers us is if we go into the act expecting it to be so. I’ve learned to not attach myself to how my acts of kindness and love are met by others but instead to focus on my own doing and intentions. I’ve also learned that sometimes people misconstrue an act of love for something else but that is also not of my control and so I let it pass and will continue to feel the love in my heart for that is the way of happiness. This can be applied to chili and all other aspects of life.
I think Buddha sums things up nicely in these two quotes:
“The greatest generosity is non-attachment.”
“The greatest effort is not concerned with results.”
Check out the chili recipe and remember to focus on the effort if you make it.
365 Days of Self Care 
