What is something new you can try today?
These might look like empty bags
but to me they are full.
Yes, they’re full, because my heart is full. These bags are more than just a nice gesture to me. The Ziploc bag came from my good friend Debra. I’ve known her for about 24 years now. The second brown paper bag came from a friend I recently met, she is my new neighbor.
Now those of you that are new here, let me tell you I have a story for everything, and I have a picture for everything because that’s how I roll! I also live my life to the fullest, and surround myself around positive people that inspire me and help me grow. With that said, I want to talk about these two friends and tell you what they mean to me. Also, let’s talk about how delicious their cookies are!
So my friend Debra wanted to do something nice for my birthday. She decided to make me homemade cookies. When she dropped them off she told me I’m not a baker…she did tell me that her daughter Elizabeth is the baker in the family. Debra told me Elizabeth wanted to make the cookies, but Debra declined because she wanted to make the cookies herself, and show me some love. Debra always says I have no duplicity, that I am very blunt and honest, this might be an example of why. I then told Debra well, if you wanted to show me some love, you should have had the baker make them! I would prefer to have tasty cookies. Regardless of my joke, I gratefully took Debra’s cookies. Of course I was happy but I just felt like if Elizabeth, her amazing baker daughter, made the cookies, I could possibly feel like Frank. (Feeling like Frank is something I’m always striving for, and again another long story!) Later on, I was having a birthday dinner and I hadn’t tried one of Debra‘s cookies yet. I had some friends over and they all sampled the cookies before I could. A few of my friends were raving about them being the best cookie they’ve ever had. I said you have to be joking because Debra told me they weren’t that good! Debra stood corrected because the cookies were delicious. In fact, they were the best cookies I have ever had in my life! Had Debra not made me those cookies, because she felt like she was not a baker, I would’ve never tasted such deliciousness. So of course, I was very grateful when Debra brought over another batch just a few days ago. Of course I ate them all probably much faster than she could make them, so I didn’t get a picture. But I did get a picture of the empty bag.
Last night, I ate the last two cookies in that Ziploc bag from Debra. Now, this morning my beautiful new neighbor brought me over this brown paper bag with some more delicious cookies in them. She made them something special, something I’ve never had in my life. Now one thing I absolutely hate is oatmeal raisin cookies! Why? Because they look so delicious, and then you take a bite… and you’re filled with disappointment. They’re filled with raisins and not chocolate! Like who thought of making such delicious looking cookies and filling them with nasty raisins? Yes, I don’t like raisins and I never will. It’s a rotten grape. I love grapes, but I can’t stand raisins. I think I would prefer somebody to bring me a fruit cake, which is something nasty in itself. Well, my neighbor brought me beautiful chocolate filled oatmeal cookies! Not just regular chocolate but DARK chocolate! The cookie was not too sweet. I have been cutting sugar out of my diet. I’ve been eating everything all natural. I love chocolate but I’ve been sticking with dark chocolate because my doctor put me on a Mediterranean diet. Now my new neighbor, she’s a vegetarian and she’s Indian. I am new to my somewhat plant-based diet and I also do not care for Indian food, even though it is my husband Scott's favorite food. Last week, my neighbor invited Scott and I over for brunch and we had tea and Indian food, it was delicious and it was healthy and tasty, I was shocked I actually liked it. I would never know how delicious my neighbors cooking was if I was afraid to try new things.
So, when my neighbor brought me over the cookies this morning, I had already been reflecting on Debra and how she had made me amazing cookies. Debra stepped out of her comfort zone and had she never done something because she thought she wasn’t good at it, and someone else was better, I would’ve never been able to try the best cookie I’ve ever had. If I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone with my neighbor and tried her cooking, it may not have led to me having another one of the best cookies I’ve ever had.
I’m realizing it doesn’t matter what age you are, we can always try something new… learn something new… taste something new… enjoy something new. You never know how talented you are, you never know what you’re good at until you actually try. See these cookies? They were made with love! Debra’s were made with love for an old friend. My new neighbor Sheetal’s, were made with love for a new friend. “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other’s gold! A circle is round, it has no end, and that’s how long I want to be your friend!” (Sang in my best Girl Scout leader voice, of course.) God, now that reminds me of Girl Scout cookies! (another delicious cookie) I need some of those before they’re sold out. I may have issues.. I relate my love to cookies but whatever gets me through the day right?
