Tag Archives: Year of the Horse

Why Zen-like Focus Can Suck

First:

Happy Chinese New Year!  Welcome to the Year of the Horse!

I grew up with the manga/anime series Fruits Basket, about a girl who comes to live with a family cursed with the spirits of Chinese Zodiac.  Isuzu ("Rin") above is possessed by the spirit of the Horse.   Copyright: written and drawn by Natsuki Takaya, published by Tokyo Pop.

I grew up with the manga/anime series Fruits Basket, about a girl who comes to live with a family cursed with the spirits of Chinese Zodiac. Isuzu (“Rin”) above is possessed by the spirit of the Horse.
Copyright: written and drawn by Natsuki Takaya, published by Tokyo Pop.

Now, last week was all about The Zen of Convenience Cooking, a.k.a. The Path To Direct Enlightenment Through Convenience Cooking (because that’s what Zen really is: the most direct path to enlightenment).
 
But sometimes, Zen-like productivity truly sucks, and it’s because it assumes that you are happy doing the task that you need to focus on.
 
Let me explain:

The Zen of Convenience Cooking

The Chinese New Year is coming up on 31st January and we will be welcoming in the Year of the Horse!

 

Now I gotta confess, my main connection with the Chinese New Year is that I’m also Japanese, and we use the Chinese Zodiac for our astrology rather than Western astrology.  I was born in the Year of the Ox – the Western equivalent being Capricorn.  In fact, as well as being an Ox, I was also born a Capricorn – kinda like a double-Capricorn/Ox/Goat.  I got horns.  (Just kidding.  But you never know.)

 

ANYWAYS!  In light of this event, I wanted to look at some of the popular ideas that have more or less been integrated into our lives and figure out if they can apply to cooking.

Continue reading

Enter your email below and get Letters From The Kitchen Table - learnings, love and wholesomeness on and off your plate

* indicates required