Savoring 2017

Maternity leave has been an interesting experience for me – for the first time in forever, I had a singular focus and I didn’t care about anything else. I didn’t look at my to do list or worry about my students or really care about accomplishing anything but hanging out with Baby E. It’s not that I was overwhelmed and unable (though there were certainly moments where that was the case); I just didn’t care about those other things. I just wanted to absorb the first weeks of my baby’s life. I worked to do my best to soak it all in and enjoy every moment of it, even at 2 am (again, this wasn’t always the case, but I tried).

And in 2017, even though I’m going back to work soon and resuming most of my responsibilities, I want to keep up that attitude. I want to soak up 2017 and enjoy everything it has to offer. Baby E will only be this little for this year and I don’t want to rush it. I want to savor 2017.

from dictionary.com:

I don’t just want to savor life with a infant in the next 365 days, I want to apply this to all areas. It’s so easy for me to let life slip by as I stare at my Facebook newsfeed, but I really want to take things in this year and be present. I want to enjoy what I’m doing and experience it fully.

“Savor” is typically associated with food and I’m planning to apply the word to this corner of the internet this year as well. 2016 was the year I all but stopped cooking. I ate a lot of processed food and easy meals; I ate a lot of totally forgettable and boring food. There’s nothing wrong with easy or forgettable meals, but I really miss cooking and being excited about what’s for dinner. Today was be the first CSA pick up I attended since October and I’ve actually created a meal plan for the week. I know my time in the kitchen will be limited, but I’m looking forward to getting back to cooking as my schedule allows. Plus, I got two new baking cookbooks for Christmas and I can’t wait to put them to work.

A photo posted by Emily (@relishments) on Dec 30, 2016 at 6:49am PST

Also on the docket for 2017: savoring time with Brian (even if we’re just watching a TV show on the couch), losing myself in some good books, enjoying the beauty of the Berkshires and stopping to breathe and appreciate everything I’ve got.