This week M+K sits across the table with Anne Dunnett, Founder, Everyday Haiku. She talks with us about mindful cooking, the routines that keep her grounded and the power of haiku poetry.
1. My cooking inspiration…
Comes from being healthy. I have suffered from gut issues most of my life and am so grateful for the abundance of recipes and resources that I’ve been able to find on the internet. These amazing foodies have helped me to learn not only what are the best foods for me to eat but how to enjoy cooking a lot more. A couple of good ones that I have found are: A Little Bit Yummy, Minimalist Baker and Fodmap Everyday.
2. A meal that reminds me of home…
When I was growing up, my mom used to cook a huge roast beef dinner with gravy and Yorkshire pudding every Sunday night. It was the big family meal that brought us all together. It’s something that I never eat these days, but whenever I hear someone mention Yorkshire pudding, it takes me back with a feeling of comfort and nostalgia of another time.
3. A life lesson cooking has taught me…
Is to slow down. It has taken me some time to fall in love with cooking and to not think of it as a chore. Now I take pleasure in the process of making a meal, mindfully creating a salad or trying a new recipe. I often think about the abundance of food that is available in the world. I’m much more aware of where the ingredients are from and how food is medicine and a form of self-care that can be shared with others.
4. When I want to be creative I…
Write haiku poetry. Haiku is a beautiful form of poetry that connects me to my senses, nature and the seasons. It helps me to be in the moment, be grounded in the here and now and releases stress. Once I have written my haiku, I create beautiful designs to go with it that I love to share and inspire others with.
5. The most transformational book I’ve read is…
Sophie’s World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy by Jostein Gaarder. I read this book when I was in my 20s and loved it. It was an amazing and inspirational way to learn about all of the different philosophies in life, where they come from and the mysteries they hold. It opened my inner world with a curiosity that helped me to unravel my own questions of who I am and why I’m here.
6. The routines that keep me grounded are…
Yoga, meditation and being in nature. Some days I do all three and other days I only do one, but each day I always make sure that I practice at least one of them.
7. I recently learnt…
About Ayurvedic Medicine. Last month I attended a Women’s retreat and one of the workshops was on Ayurvedic. I knew a little bit about it and am now interested in learning more about how it provides healing and a healthy lifestyle. I’m also intrigued by the connection it has with the seasons which is a big part of haiku.
8. Favourite random act of kindness…
Is kindness. Being kind to strangers, saying hello to someone I pass on the street, smiling at them and connecting. Since COVID, I also connect more with the grocery store service providers by asking them how they are doing and telling them how valued they are at keeping us safe and healthy.
9. To make a difference in my community I…
Put out a weekly inspirational haiku newsletter. People love it! It has two haiku poems and a little inspirational message based on a monthly theme. I love to share haiku in different ways to help others in simple and small ways.
10. Right now, I’m grateful for…
Where I live. Last year I moved from Vancouver to the small town on Vancouver Island where I was born and raised. It’s been wonderful to slow down, be closer to my family and have easy access to nature in my backyard everyday.
Anne Dunnett is a haiku poet and graphic designer based on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Anne’s experience from writing haiku has shown her that haiku is a powerful tool for mindfulness. Her purpose and passion are showing others how the philosophy of haiku can offer a new way of looking at life, especially during these challenging times. Her haiku poetry has won honourable mentions and has been critiqued and reviewed by some of the best – and best known – haiku poets in Canada and the United States. Her haiku has been featured in haiku anthologies and she recently self-published her first book, The Mindful Poet – Celebrating a Year of Haiku based on her weekly newsletter. She is currently offering on-line workshops and creating a new program that explores and celebrates the senses through haiku.
To connect visit:
Website: http://everydayhaiku.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everydayhaikuanne/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Everyday-Haiku-1464937316854415/
