At its most basic level, practising mindfulness means being fully present.
The mind has a habit of taking us to the past or the future, often preventing us from experiencing the joys of the here and now. However, it is through this awareness that we can cultivate contentment for what we have, and in turn, calm our inner yearnings for ‘more.’
Although having a wandering mind is a perfectly natural tendency, it is perhaps now further fuelled by the demands and technology of the modern world. Interestingly, the ancient Greek language didn’t even have a future tense. As Andrea Marcolongo explains in her book, The Ingenious Language: Nine Epic Reasons to Love Greek: “Clearly a brave people, the Greeks didn’t dream of asking how the future would unfold. There was nothing to question; the future simply had to be experienced. Once experienced, the Greeks appealed to the present [tense]…to talk about it.” It was only later that Modern Greek became bound by time.
These days, our relationship to time has certainly changed – we are ever trying to achieve more ‘goals’ and fit more into our already packed schedules. In this context, mindfulness acts as a form of resistance. It asks us to focus on what we are experiencing. Its beauty is that by cultivating awareness, almost any activity can be ‘mindful.’
For Marmalade + Kindness, mindful cooking is about being aware of:
- where your food comes from;
- how it is prepared;
- how it is enjoyed; and
- ultimately how it impacts your mind and body.
We believe this practice can be transformational.
For example, the focus that comes with making something from scratch means that people often turn to cooking to:
- manage difficult emotions (like loneliness, anxiety or stress) or overcome other challenging experiences;
- practice self-care;
- improve mental focus
- find time for deliberate learning and progress;
- develop personal confidence;
- find purpose; and
- connect with loved ones or their community.
By blending recipes and mindfulness tips, Marmalade + Kindness hopes to support your journey to intentional, generous home cooking.
‘Attention is the most basic form of love. By paying attention we let ourselves be touched by life, and our hearts naturally become more open and engaged.’
Tara Brach
