by Sharon Cooke | Jul 14, 2021
I have invited a friend for dinner and I am going to cook! Yes, plan a menu, pull out recipes, shop the ingredients and cook. For ages it’s been apps, salads and gelato. I’m back. Sweet Potato Lasagna, salad (I’m even making the dressing) and this lovely vanilla ice cream dessert with a sorbet centre, butterscotch drizzle and raspberry garnish. Now lets not get crazy – I’m not making the ice cream or the sorbet — but I’m orchestrating the architecture of this yummy finale to my amazing entrée. I adore Sweet Potato Lasagna. First time I made this; success. Second time; disaster. Ten years later, the pressure is on. I’m ready. I bring out the mandolin slicer to of course slice the sweet potato’s — and yes, you may think you know where this is going and you are partially right — but it literally and metaphorically goes sooo much deeper. I forgot the most important ingredient. I genuinely wanted to prepare this meal. Good friend, we’ll enjoy laughter and great conversation. But as I begin, I loose myself and tumble into the ego of self-doubt. What if this bombs? What if I don’t get everything done in time? I must add. I had also committed to washing and ironing fifteen staff shirts for the store opening of my daughters partner. Juggling cooking and laundering. And then it happens. Pain and a quick and fleeting scream. MY Thumb!! There it is, the amputated portion of my thumb on the counter. I grab it and fling it into the sink and down the drain it disappears as I’m running...
by Sharon Cooke | Feb 1, 2021
My daughter comes to me and tells me that my grand daughter (age seven) would like to learn to knit and could I take this one. With a slight hesitancy, I reply, “Yes, I can take this.” My hesitancy was not about teaching my grand daughter how to knit, it was more that I hadn’t knit since my twenties and even then I only mastered the classic scarf with fringe. I never cast on or finished off. I seem to recall I handed that task over to my mother. But off I go. I purchase the wool a beginners kit of how to knit. Now with dyslexia believe it or not, that beginners kit of small needles and booklet was not my friend. Off to Google I went and met a lovely lady by the name of Judy who I’m sure had me in mind when she created knitting videos in slow motion. I love Judy. All primed. I pick up my grand daughter and tell her I will teach her to knit. She turns to me excited and informs me that she’d like to make a jacket, the fuzzy kind. I smile and remind myself how much I love her, and reply, “We’ll be knitting a scarf.” We begin. “This is hard.” “It just takes practice, it will get easier.” A few rows in. “This is going to take forever.” My grand daughter’s quota was three rows and then I would do a few and then back she would come for three more. After a time, she came to me. “I’ve changed my mind. I’d like to make...
by Sharon Cooke | Dec 9, 2020
There was a time in my life where I experienced what it was to be with someone and yet very much alone. Neglected and abandoned, with the repeated message that I was not deserving of being loved. I crumbled. But, life and likewise, myself, had other plans. I rallied. I closed the door to this reality. When you start again, alone at first, I pushed myself to do things on my own. And low and behold I grew to enjoy my own company. I found out that I was not this terrible person, I had been told I was. I liked me and I could actually have a good time with just me. I looked in the mirror and I remembered; I have dimples. Dimples that appear when one smiles are irresistible. And even, if you don’t, there is surely something you have that is beautiful. Now, fast forward to – 2020. Yes, I still like me. I remain to enjoy my company, I find how I think intriguing, there are moments where I applaud my brilliance. I find myself amusing and therefore entertaining. I even enjoy my cooking. Now, there are times I’m not impressed and I tell myself that this was not one of my finer moments and thank God tomorrow is another day and I can start fresh. BUT. From March till December of this year, I have had the pleasure of my company, A LOT! Let’s face it being together with anyone 24/7 can be just that — too much. There is no escaping me. Every day it’s Me, Myself and… Well you know the...
by Sharon Cooke | Oct 9, 2020
The act of performing well planned efficient errands to me is an art form. I start with the Post-It Note (I so love this invention). Then I plan my route. The ultimate high is when I design one where there are only right turns, no crossing traffic – I know, very impressive. Parking, I must confess I possess no passion for this exercise. I choose a spot where I drive through, no backing up. Again a time saver. I park a distance from the store with less people to look out for when landing and during take off and the opportunity for more steps. Yes, I incorporate exercise into my errand regime. Once inside I power walk. Amazing, I love it. No dawdling, focused, with a clear intention. Covid 19 has pretty much destroyed my polished and perfected errand maneuvers. Rather than five locations, I may only attempt two to three. Then there are the arrows. Following the plan means more steps, yeah, but does take more time. When I reach an empty aisle, this is my break away and I unleash the power walk strut. The social distancing asks you to have more patience. However, when I encounter the couple who park their cart in the middle of the aisle and each partner is on an opposite side, thus creating an aisle block, my hospitality experience comes in handy. I first bless the ‘thoughtless’ souls and then I inform them with a compassionate tone. “I’m just squeezing by you.” “I’m behind you.” “I’m coming on your left.” It brings them back to the reality that there are still...
by Sharon Cooke | Nov 11, 2019
The place you come from is important. I’m not talking geography. I’m talking intention. I’m talking the energy you align to. Think about it, sit down, pour a cup of… and mullonder.* Most importantly be honest with yourself. For the past few years I’ve been out and about stretching myself. I’ve gone on week long discoveries, retreats, attended lectures, classes. I’ve placed myself in realities that in the course of the average day I may not find myself in. I’ve met people who have strong beliefs, opinions, views, perspectives. People who advocate for others, ideas, lifestyles, to promote awareness and initiate change, supporting freedom of choice and life. I’ve come away with lots to think about. Throughout this experience I have to say, that in amongst the information and opening myself up to change, I have heard and felt the energy of anger. So much so, I’ve needed to step away from time to time before I go back for more. It makes me ask, can you advocate for change and reap success fuelled by anger? When you are royally pissed off and you let out a primal scream of, “No More!” You do get people to sit up and take notice. But when you keep yelling and attacking, you will attract more to be angry at. Universal Law; Like Attracts Like. And do remember that anger is Fear. And Fear is not true power. And then on a Sunday evening in September, I’m in Toronto at a club listening to Xavier Rudd from Australia and between songs he shares what he is standing for. He wants the environment...
by Sharon Cooke | Sep 16, 2019
There is the conversation where you attempt to tell someone something or perhaps someone attempts to tell you something and you hear from another or yourself, “I know, I know.” When this is uttered it more often than not translates into, “Leave me be.” We learn how to say, “No,” long before we say, “Know.” Therefore, when we are not applying what we know and someone is pointing that out, we reply with, “I know, I know.” Which, again, is, “No” in an attempt to shut them down. However, there is a phrase, “To know and not to use, is not to know.” This is where my story begins. Each week, I draw some cards, as a focus for the next seven days. This weeks Permission card, read; “I give myself permission to be embarrassed.” I don’t feel, I embarrass easily, as I generally come clean when I make an error. I may feel bad, perhaps foolish, but embarrassed. Hmmm, not sure? One thing about the drawing of cards is that what you receive may take a bit for the light to come on. The other thing is that you will receive what you need and not necessarily what you want. I had been in the doldrums for a while and as much as I felt I was trying to shake it off and shift, I was slipping right back into my slump. Monday arrived and I drew the card “Permission to be Embarrassed.” Needless to say, not what I wanted. By Tuesday, I got it, and yes I allowed myself to be embarrassed. I had allowed myself to...
