Embedded Files
Growing up, steamed egg was a staple exclusively for the children's meal—meaning me. While the rest of the family had different dishes, this simple bowl was mine. But as the years passed, I began to avoid it completely. I told myself: “I’ve had enough steamed egg to last me a lifetime.” Without realizing it, I had let a silent judgment harden into a strict rule! It wasn't that I couldn't cook it; I simply never allowed it to be on the list of dishes I would ever make for my family.
The shift finally happened because of a simple, persistent craving. My daughter absolutely adores steamed egg. On the few occasions when we decided to pack dinner from the local "economical rice stall"—a popular neighbourhood food stall where everyday home-style dishes are freshly displayed, & you choose a few toppings over a bed of rice—the steamed egg was almost always sold out. Seeing her disappointment, love gently nudged me to put aside my old mental block. Last Sunday, I decided to step into the kitchen & steam a huge bowl for the whole family.
When it appeared on the dinner table, everyone was genuinely surprised to see it. It had never appeared at all before because I had always refused to cook it. As I lifted the lid, the color surprised me too—it wasn't quite the shade from my childhood memory. Looking at the dish, my son commented on how lovely & golden it looked, and seeing everyone eagerly dig in & thoroughly enjoy it was a beautiful moment.
It was only after the whole episode that I realized I had unconsciously chosen to be curious, adding a little element of fun to the evening. Approaching the bowl with a true Beginner’s Mind, I dipped a small spoon & tasted it for the first time in decades. As I closed my eyes to process the flavour, everyone burst out laughing at the expression of approval on my face. Oops, I guess the joke was on me! It was incredibly pleasant. It left me wondering why I had avoided something so comforting for so long, & why I hadn't truly listened when my daughter shared it was her favourite.
When we step into the kitchen with awareness, we can practice these three shifts:
1) From Resisting to Receiving: Letting go of old mental rules & judgments, allowing ourselves to receive the present moment just as it is.
2) From Automatic to Curious: Shifting from a fixed mind that says, "I already know this" to a Beginner’s Mind that asks, "What is here right now?"
3) From Cooking for Routine to Cooking for Connection: Moving past the mere chore of preparing food to creating a shared, heartfelt experience for the people we love.
The attitude in focus this week is Non-Judgment. It is the willingness to notice the silent biases we carry about our likes and dislikes, & the courage to drop them so we can taste life anew. Sometimes, a simple bowl of steamed egg is all it takes to remind us that we can always write a fresh story - at least, it did for me. 😋
May your week be filled with warm, golden moments.
🌷humbly from Linda's desk 🌷
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse