What are your future travel plans?
Next month I’m planning to travel to Northern Michigan, about a week later I will visit Montreal and Quebec, and at the end of the month I’ll go to the south of France to visit Nice and then head to the countryside for a friend’s wedding. In December I may visit Thailand or Sri Lanka.
Disregarding what my appetite is interested in, I could enjoy making a tuna broccoli souffle because I like making bechamel. A simple sofrito of onions and olive oil on a low heat is a great way to start building up cooking energy. Tiramisu reminds me of all the times I made it with my Italian and French roommates which is both a lovely memory and creates a not-so-sweet treat as you separate egg yolks from whites. When I make butashogayaki (Japanese pork ginger over rice), I love the smell as the grated onion & ginger sauce hits the hot frying pan! Boiling things and putting the lid on while reducing to a simmer feels satisfying because you can relax as it cooks, like making an Italian chicken dish until it falls off the bone since they love those long cooking dishes. As they say in “The Hundred-Foot Journey”, food is memories.
Which activities make you lose track of time?
Because I’m passionate about almost everything I do, I lose track of time whenever I’m doing something I really enjoy. It’s kind of funny because I have a surprisingly accurate mental clock, but in these instances I want to continue doing whatever I am doing regardless of the time.
Last night, I was listening to the news when my phone switched to a podcast interview with a poet. While not my favorite genre, I admired her passion for that form of expression as a self-discovery outlet in different emotions and times of her life.
I’ve recently started getting back into creating visual arts and I wonder if it would be beneficial to post advice for those who don’t feel like they can draw to build up skills towards realism? (Breaking and bending rules usually comes after learning basic skills so you can adjust with intention.)
I have much art I have made over time, and I guess I could showcase that as well? Who knows, an interested individual may want a commission or a copy of some famous piece of art or style. But the main idea should be trying to help people recognize their own styles and have some fun doing it.
What are you most excited about for the future?
In the long-term, I really look forward to what having a partner will look like and the changes that will entail. In the shorter term, I started bonsai seeds yesterday and am excited to experiment with a failed terrarium project by learning from experience gained. Staggering my future goals seems the most rewarding.
What’s your definition of romantic?
A hand gently resting against your cheek as if it is holding something precious and fragile. Arms affectionately wrapped around you as if you protect you, wanting to hold you close as they rest. Being inside a heart and treated as if you are the extension of someone’s own skin. A small note of kindness. Being reminded you are on their mind throughout the day. A smile when your eyes meet.
Asking me what the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten is a daunting task for a foodie, but I would have to say the strongest emotional response of “this is heaven” was my first meal at a restaurant in Italy. I remember just being in shock after trying the food, and there was this kindly old man behind the counter who smiled over in my direction like he could sense the customer appreciation. I knew instantly that this country had something special going on in its culinary traditions.
My belief in God and Jesus Christ are a big part of my life and identity. Although physical and mental health are topics often spoken of, I think it is also important to develop our spiritual health. I suggest doing this by seeking after truth and always working on yourself, growing towards a deeper understanding of wisdom and love.
How do you practice self-care?
I have a page on my site where I delve into many methods I’ve developed overtime to handle stress, and those largely roll into forms of self-care.
How do you waste the most time every day?
I seem to spend the most time driving (usually during my commute) or quietly pondering life in mediation, staring out the window at nature, or going for walks where I tend to call people to catch up. I wouldn’t consider quiet moments as wasteful but necessary decompressing from the day.
Mauron Kur 