Are You Cooking Your Joy?

My Joy Project - also known as food I have loved.

I’ve just completed an incredible New Year’s retreat. I’ve been away. On my own. In Mauritius (I know, it’s a hard life but I’m living my best one after years of shit – you can read about some of the shit on my about page. Or in my new book out March). The retreat involved receiving a square white box before I left my home in London. It contained a treasure trove of creative inspiration. I was instructed to open two packages daily and received accompanying voice notes with exercises looking back and forward (I’ve put a link to the retreat below and watch this space because I’m in the process of developing my own - The Arts Adventure Retreat – and you might want to come along?).

A special (almost spooky) thing about it was that it involved writing lots of lists of three and some lists of eight. Which if you’ve been reading my Substack you’ll know are both numbers I rate. One of the exercises involved exploring eight aspects of life and listing the things within each category which had made my heart proud or pleased in the last year. The categories were:

1.    Health and Fitness

2.    Home and Family

3.    Social Connection

4.    Career

5.    Finance

6.    Joy

7.    Spirituality

8.    Self Development

And what astounded me was how many things I listed under the category of ‘Joy’. A few years ago, this would have been my shortest list but, now, the page in my notepad was overflowing. It made me realise how well I was doing with my ‘Joy Project’. I mentioned this in my post last week on writing New Year’s resolutions (or what I call suggestions). (And by the way how did you get on with writing yours?)

It also made me reflect on what brings me the purest pleasure. And the shortest, simplest answer to that is: food. In fact, I sometimes call it my religion. As I read back through my Blessings Book of 2023 – the daily gratitude practice I’ve done for well over ten years – it was astonishing how many mentions grub got. Or maybe it wasn’t that astonishing because I already know it’s one of my main reasons for living, and definitely why I do any form of physical exercise – I move so I can eat.

So here for your delectation is a little list of three of my favourite food experiences from last year…to inspire you to go on some food adventures of your own in 2024…

I had my first ever Espresso Martini.

I know. It’s taken me a long time. I call myself an Adventure Activist, and some might ask why I didn’t take this adventure sooner. But generally I like my coffee straight up – no alcohol, milk, or sugar. And cocktail-wise, I’m very committed to Negronis (the drink lovers drink). I’m also partial to a Margarita (being a lover of salt); a Bloody Mary as a starter before a Sunday roast; and I do the occasional Aperol Spritz (if I’m feeling orange squash with a kick). So for a long time, I’ve felt that my cocktail needs are nailed. But finally I embraced the EM and loved it. I then subsequently had several more on several more occasions. I still love it but - for the record - I do not recommend two in a row as a digestif after a red wine dinner. It’s pushing it. Which I am known to do. Suggestion to new year self: push less.

I went to tea at The Ritz – for the first time.

I took my god-daughter to celebrate finishing her GCSEs, and my dearest friend Beth (her mum). It was fabulous. Totally touristy but totally worth it. Do it if you haven’t done it. It’s the sort of thing that’s got to be done.

And thirdly, I had the tastiest three oysters of my life.

At the Bridge Arms, in Kent. To be honest oysters aren’t my favourite food. I’m more extravagantly simple in my tastes - I’d prefer champagne and crisps as a starter. But the waitress said they were the best she’d ever tasted, and when she said this I knew it was an adventure which needed taking. She was right – Oyster 3 (the green one) was the best and check out that cute little bottle of Tabasco too!

So that’s my little list of love for you this week. And if you’ve got any favourite taste sensations, please share them. They don’t need to be highfalutin (what a weird, wonderful word, I don’t think I’ve ever written it down before and needed to search for the spelling). Suffice to say they don’t need to be that - they can be mini morsels of joy – like this cup of green tea and five fruit gums -  a picture I took last February. That’s the great thing about food – it’s an opportunity for pleasure in a tiny way, every day. Whatever your joy is – I hope you’re cooking it.

PS. The New Year’s retreat I undertook was created by a wonderful woman called Kate Emmerson.  You can do it anywhere in the world, it’s a solo retreat, delivered by post and Whatsapp.

PPS. ‘Lists of Love’ is a new reader-supported publication, by me. Up until March all my subscribers (paid and free) will receive weekly posts to celebrate its launch. For ongoing subscription details and to subscribe press the button below: