If life were a garden what seeds are you planting? Are you tending the plants that bring you the juicy joy of your heartfelt dreams? Or do you settle for what is convenient? Maybe veggies have a lot to say about your life.
Turnips: Glue Stew
I am not a big fan of turnips. Those little bald heads and blandly bitter taste are a poor use of my taste buds. Why would anyone want to waste their time chewing that mush? All that effort spent planting, growing, and then preparing a vegetable that looks and tastes like glue stew--I just don't see the point.
I know my turnip aversion isn't rational. For some folks, turnips are a tasty treat. In my case, turnips were a casualty of the dinner table "clean plate club" program growing up. (Young parents beware.) Turnips were the bait-and-switch veggie of my youth. They looked like mashed potatoes. Instead of that little piece of heaven, mashed potatoes, I had a clump of sour glop in my mouth. I would forego ice cream so I wouldn't have to put that nasty turnip goo in my mouth.
Turnips were the enemy. I wasn't going to let them win. No way. No how.
Tomatoes: The Sexy Veggie.
Ahh, tomatoes.
That's another story. I'm a self-confessed tomato freak. On summer Sunday mornings, I get up extra early just to pick up my favorite tomatoes from Hans. He is my German organic tomato wizard. When you see Hans, you know you are in Southern California, baby. His tattered straw cowboy hat, wide grin, tie-dyed T-shirts and tomato earrings (tooth picks through his ears with a cherry tomato on each end) make him a far cry from the farmers I grew up with in Bucyrus, Kansas. Hans puts the capital H in Hippie. And he puts the capital H in Happy every time you bite into one of his luscious tomatoes. The sexy feel of their firm flesh can drive you bananas. I'm starting to drool remembering the sloppy sweetness that won't be back until summer.
Why this discussion of vegetables? Every choice you make plants a seed in your life. And every single moment is an opportunity to choose. It is so-o-o easy to forget this--and it is mind-boggling when you really catch what it means. We are each given a seed packet. Each choice we makes something take root. Which one are you planting today?
Are you living in a turnip patch? Do you settle? Are you resigned to eat the turnip (or life as you know it) in front of you whether you like it or not?
Are you going to pick the tomato packet yourself toward your dreams can be sloppy and scary. Trust me. I know this from personal experience. Biting into a great tomato can have unexpected consequences, as the juice drips down your cheek or collar. The same can happen when you are making the choices of your inner calling.
Going against your heart is like my planting turnips instead of tomatoes.
In every breathing, heart-beating moment of your life you are given the opportunity to plant something juicy, positive, and life-affirming, or something that dulls your senses and energy. Each decision, conscious or unconscious, sooner or later grows and bears fruit in the garden of your life. This is why staying aware of your moment-to-moment decisions is so dang smart.
Which seed packet are you reaching into--turnips or tomatoes?
What is your least favorite vegetable? If you actually like turnips I would like to get a recipe or two to try to see if you can change my mind.
You can receive notice of my blogs by checking Become a Fan at the top. Ask Eli a question at info@elidavidson.com or go to www.elidavidson.com today.
Eli Davidson is a nationally recognized motivational speaker and executive coach. Her book, Funky to Fabulous: Surefire Success Stories for the Savvy, Sassy and Swamped, (Oak Grove Publishing) has won three national book awards. Eli is a reinvention catalyst, who can transform your professional and personal life from Funky to Fabulous with her 10 trademarked Turnaround Techniques that create rapid and remarkable results. Check out her blog at http://funkytofabulous.blogspot.com/
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So, to me, the tomato is actually the easy way out. You're settling for flash instead of substance. You can't build self-esteem without actually challenging yourself and accomplishing something difficult.
Gosh, I need this reminder this week. As you know, I went back into fulltime work at the end of the year...it's been CHALLLENNNGING!!! I am riding the current of change again, and practicing my spiritual warriorhood in ways i've not known before. This article was a great refresher!
Thanks,
Love,
Jason
Similarly, this week I wrote how love is a choice. Check it out - http://hamburgersstand.blogspot.com/.
Wow! I read your post.
It was terrific! I was fascinated by your take on love and choice. You dive deep and offer such wisdom. I appreciate that you are doing what you can to make our world a better one.
Thank you so much for sharing http://www.lifeandlove.tv., what a great resource.
Thank you for sharing it with all of us!
Your Fan,
Eli Davidson
There doesn't seem to be a subject that you don't contribute
an interesting fact into the mix.
""Now they are saying being able to taste "bitter" is genetic I
cannot, so I cannot say if turnips are bitter or not. I know
someone who can taste bitter and says beets, for example,
"taste like poison." Nova did a good program on this:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/0404/01.html You may
be a bitter taster.""
I want you on my Trivial Pursuits team.
Eli Davidson
Game on! Let's transform lives through the power of turnips.
How about a Turnip Turnaournd Cook Off?
We can transform an issue through cooking. Up until now, I have not been a turnip fan.
Maybe one of your recipes will change my mind.
What if we did this as a community?
Pick a recipe.
Let us know which one you are cooking.
Tell us what you thought of the end result.
Let me know what you think. I am picking my recipe tonight.
I can see you as a tomato. I think you are a little saucy myself. As I was talking to Ed Saturday he agrees. I believe could a tomato too. I can a little saucy, a little sweet. It all depend what I'm mixed with.
I also like turnips. Cooking is as creative as life is. It all depends on your perspective. Many years ago
I was a restaurant trainer and chef. Maybe someday I could cook something for you.
You and Ed do indeed make my days.
You are making me blush. Now that they have those tender peachy tomatoes it would be just the right color. How gracious are you?!!! My bet is that you are a heck of a cook, and I'd be delighted.
Eli
I think that question of if we settle deserves more examination, particularly in economic downturn when even people who otherwise wouldn't are settling.
Yes, often we're afraid to take the leap (next step). Also a topic for more exploration.
I like Epicurous.com. You may find a turnip recipe you like here http://www.epicurious.com/tools/searchresults?type=food&search=turnip
Keep up the great work.
Your points about settling and being afraid to take a leap are each such excellent points. Thank you for bringing them up. They are such great ideas I will explore in a coming posts.
Wow!!! The turnip recipe I was asking for. OK. I am a renown bad cook. But since you were so sweet to send it to me..I will cook it.
You, my dear, are a goddess!
Love,
Eli
I adore the picture of you shopping for these precious tender vegetables in Cannes. Let's go to the market sometime.
PS There sure are a lot of friends in your town right now.
Love and Light to YOU!
Eli
I love parsnips, not so sure about turnips, though the baby ones can be ok in certain places, such as cut in small pieces in a casserole. Totally love fresh spinach, also broccoli shoots - again new and green. New asparagus with melted butter.
Forville Market in Cannes has salads, green veggies and fresh herbs to go to heaven for. Mainly, I love your choosing tomatoes analogy. We hold the seed packet.
Great post - thank you!
Oodles of love to you,
Anne
What is your least favorite vegetable?
This is not easy to say cause its good for you but ... brussel sprouts - the taste is kind of ....
but I do love what it does for me.
Love most others, Ed
This is great advice! not many people actually attempt to follow their calling. Most people settle. This is a great article and i hope it inspires people to at least think about what makes them happy and why they may be ignoring it in lieu of something else. Thanks Eli!
Eli Davidson
For someone like me, my taste buds change by the month, day, year! One moment I am in the mood for tomatoes, the next cucumbers, and then snap peas, etc... Basically what I'm saying is I never know what I want out of life, but at least I keep choosing the many things that I enjoy even if my mind changes with the wind. I guess it's time to look back and enjoy the whole salad of my life!
Thanks for the awesomeness Eli!
Bless you Jess,
Eli
Yes, my friend you are ever so right! I am a fan of your culinary correction. It all boils down to the choices we make.
Thanks again,
Eli