I believe that humans have a natural inclination to create. Unfortunately, our precious time is often highjacked by our phones, TV, and the busy as hell American lifestyle. How often have you told yourself you would love to learn a new skill, but you don’t have the time? However, if you were to make the time to learn you may find it’s not that daunting. This has been my experience with baking. I started baking my own bread when I was working full time. It was infrequent but in those first few months I learned the basics and realized it was not that scary. Truth be told I was very intimidated at first. I think this comes from a fear of failure. I remember the first time I attempted to make a rustic loaf and the dough was so incredibly sticky. I got so frustrated I just about threw the darn thing out. Then I surrendered to the possibility that my first loaf of bread may just be bad. I dutifully followed the rest of the instructions despite thinking I was doing everything wrong. The bread turned out pretty tasty, if not very attractive looking. Now that I have more time on my hands, I have baked everything from pies to various types of bread, and my most daunting project, croissants. Every time I think the bake won’t turn out right and every time it comes out great. Sure, there have been mishaps along the way, but overall, no one has complained. It makes me think about how lessons from baking translate into the rest of our lives. What if we went into new experiences with the mindset that we are there to learn, not to succeed? That little failures make us better in the long run and that any mistake can be fixed with enough honey and butter? Baking can teach us these things, but it also gives us the space to create and to nourish ourselves and our loved ones. It is one of the oldest forms of art and has literally shaped cultures around the world. Imagine all that knowledge and history can be found from the fanciest French patisserie to the humblest home kitchen. Even if the extent of your baking experience consists of Toll House cookies you are also part of that history. Our souls require that we make time to create and there is no better use of the human mind than to produce something sublime out of simple ingredients. Happy baking. 

End note- If you think baking is a transcendental experience, try baking with two small helpers. It will open your consciousness to whole new worlds of patience and understanding.