Finding Comfort in the Kitchen

I'm someone who finds comfort in similarity. Whether it be a TV show, movies, leaving work at the same time each day, or certain foods. I find comfort in knowing what will happen and the feeling it will bring me. It's why I rewatch Gilmore Girls every fall, or why I tend to watch the same handful of romcoms over and over. To some people, that might seem incredibly boring and predictable, but in a life where feelings can be fleeting and drastic, I need the consistency. Part of it, too, is being able to relax my brain; I don't have to fully enact it, it just is able to be.

It's a similar reason why I enjoy baking. The process itself is enjoyable, but I can't forget about the end result either. A chocolate chip cookie could solve a handful of my problems. In that moment, I forget how stressed I've been or how I felt unworthy of life's greatest aspects. Isn't it funny? Something as simple as baking can make me forget those feelings of doubt. The universe and I were both created and meant to coexist at the same time, so why do I feel the need to doubt myself? I can't fully answer it myself, yet, I can say that the mind is a complex being comprised of both our conscious and unconscious thought processes.

I've embarked on baking multiple treats this past month, including chocolate chip cookies, s'mores cookies, Rice Krispy treats, and brownies. It was my first time making s'mores cookies, and let me tell you, it almost felt like being on a roller coaster. With a few bumps in the road, unsure of where the next turn will be, but then it slows down, and I end up safe. I like the simplicity of baking; all I have to do is follow the instructions and take it step by step. I've realized that taking things step by step is something that works for me; it stimulates my brain in a way that is still challenging and makes me push myself. Also, something I'm realizing, and I know I have mentioned before, is that the small things matter. Let me say that again: the small things matter. Even those tiny microscopic things that make you happy. I take many things for granted on a daily basis. Baking is one of those things that brings me joy, and I deserve to feel that joy. We all do.