Wisdom and Sauerkraut
A tweet, a beet and a big red cabbage.
When does it officially become too late to wish people a Happy New Year? I’m sure it’s still timely to do it now, so Happy New Year to you.
Here in Godzone summer holidays are drawing to a close, the days are starting to become identifiable by their names again and my cheese intake is dropping but that doesn’t mean the summer bbqs are slowing down. Our family gatherings are in full swing this month as we have 11 birthdays in January! So many good reasons to celebrate.
One of those reasons was my 50th. I had planned to mark my ‘big birthday’ in a momentous and significant way; Mexico and tequila, Cuba and cigars, whale shark riding; but Covid and it’s sidekick Omnicom had other ideas. I did however get to be with good friends, eat yummy food and laugh lots and lots. At this time in the big picture I took that as a massive win and felt very grateful at the end of the day. This is a year I am going to learn more, stop more and listen more; to myself and others. I am going to change the things I can that don’t serve me or mine. I am going to keep my mental, spiritual and physical health in the best shape I can. I am going to share as much as I can with others. I am going to love the people I love. I am going to reply in the most positive voice I can find to others. I am going to judge less. I am going to simplify my life even more. I am going to read more books and take more new paths when I walk. I’m going to use my creative talent as much as I can. I am going to remember that when my breath is feeling short and my mind is full of noise that I need to find a big tree in a quiet place and sit still until I feel peace in my soul again.
One of things I’ve learnt to change when it doesn’t serve me is social media. I’ve never been a confrontational person and I find it upsetting when others get in a nasty battle to be right, Facebook is rife with comments that leave me feeling black and blue so I’ve simply stopped reading them. In comparison I find Twitter a warm, welcoming place and never more so than after the question I posed on there the day of my birthday.
I tweeted “Today is my 50th birthday I’d love the gift of your big life lesson or a learning you’ve had in your lifetime so far if you’ve got a minute to share one”
It was a simple question that solicited dozens and dozens of thoughtful responses and they were all from such a good positive place that I had to share them.
I know this is usually a food blog and that I always share a recipe so I thought long and hard about the type of food I associate with wisdom. One of the things I have learnt as I get more grown up is to trust my gut, your gut instinct in often right and recent studies on the gut show that our gut and brain are very, very closely linked. The idea that bacteria teeming in the gut—collectively known as the microbiome—can affect not only the gut, but also the mind. In just the last few years, evidence has mounted that the gut microbiome can influence neural development, brain chemistry and a wide range of behavioral phenomena, including emotional behavior, pain perception and how the stress system responds. A wonderful way to look after that gut radar is by eating fermented foods and I do that with delicious sauerkraut. I have a massive jar in the fridge and eat it any chance I get. It’s simple to make and uses the humble cabbage so to keep your gut in tip top shape is not an expensive exercise at all and nothing makes me feel more “earth mother” than opening a jar of homemade sauerkraut and adding that flavour bomb to anything that I can.
So here is some wonderful advice from some beautiful individuals in the Twittersphere followed by my sauerkraut recipe. Help yourself to anything here that serves you well x I love that they are so varied - from wearing protective biking gear to how to store cheese to being yourself to not peeing on electric fences! All so different and colourful but I really felt like they all came from a place of love - these are what made my 50th birthday truly special and reminded my that there are a lot of good people out there.
It's ok to change your mind on career path - changing something that isn't what you expected it to be is not failure
Do one thing that scares you everyday. Eleanor Roosevelt. I don’t know why I first became drawn to this saying, may be because when I’m asked if want to do something, whether it’s something I’ve done before or something new, my answer is “Yeah, Why not” Also, be curious.
“Don’t wait to be discovered” This is an especially female affliction. We wait quietly and hope someone might notice us for our talents.
Live as your authentic self.
Don't stress over things that have (effectively) already happened.
Read Desiderata and follow it religiously. Every toilet had it in the 70s and I always thought of it as hippy twee, but it bundles an enormous amount of wisdom. https://desiderata.com/desiderata.html
2 pieces of advice that have helped often. Bring up an incredibly happy memory (I use one from around 30 yrs ago) and remember and feel the joy. And the old cliché What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
My wife calls it the "f*ck off 50's" because the further you climb into them, the more you realise that you can only please some of the people, some of the time - and if you don't look after yourself first, you're no good to anyone else.
People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Don’t gamble on a potential shart. It’s not worth it.
Women's friendships are crucial as we get older. Always be nurturing.
Don't forget to breathe.
If in doubt smile.
Follow your heart - not the ‘rules’.
It’s better to be kind than to be right.
Life’s to short to sleep in crap, so always buy quality bed sheets.
I run drama workshops & 1 of my teens said recently “when you took over from our other tutor I was like ugh she’s so old, this isn’t going to be as much fun” (I was 58) & then he said “but then I got to know u & ur not old at all - you’re my best teacher ever” Age is just a number.
Be the change you want to see.
Fear = false evidence appearing real. And failure is just an outcome. Might not be the one you wanted but you can learn and grow from it
When young don’t piss on electric fence, when over 50 u may need to, to keep your heart going.
Keep cheese in a Chinese takeaway container. It doesn’t dry out and stays mould free for ages.
Take the time to really look, not just being present but really looking and there is beauty everywhere.
Be yourself! ( Everyone else is taken)
In a world where you can be anything - be kind.
Always wear the best protective motorcycle gear you can afford (if motorcycling)
Don’t forget, especially if you are feeling blue, to close your eyes now and then and feel the sun on your face.
Every morning, straighten your crown.
Follow your intuition.
Mature as you age, Growing up is optional don't lose your childish enthusiasm.
Rā whānau! It took me far too long to learn this: Some people will take, others will give. Don't give too much to those who are sucking your soul dry... find someone or something more worthy of your energy.
Work less, play more.
Always have baby wipes around - so easy to clean stuff/anything!
Being kind is the worthwhile life goal.
Always smile, it makes you feel good and it makes people that see you feel good.
Bad advice is expensive.
Love is the greatest, but kindness is everything.
Don't ever grow up! I'm not quite 50, and my dad has always told me this.
Despite all the negatives in the world, it's still a lovely place to live. Find the joy in the every day.
I've learned that I need to carve out time on my own, in order to be my best for anyone else. (during lockdowns and school holidays, this can become glaringly obvious!)
My 50th I decided to start a new career. Best thing I ever did… Don’t stay anywhere you shouldn’t be any longer than it took you to find out.
If you like the feel of the sun on your tummy, wear the damned bikini.
Enjoy the simple things in life. The sky, sea, birds etc
Don’t scrub the inside of the toilet bowl with your mouth even slightly open...this is sage advice for any age.
You're a goddess, descended from along line of phenomenal women. Don't forget that.
This - whenever I doubt myself or feel less than I think of the amazing wāhine in my family who have gone before me & it gives me a boost.
Happy half a hundred. Time will speed up now so make the most of every moment.
Do things that keep you supple.
Spend your energy on what’s positive and productive, don’t waste it worrying about things you can do nothing (or nothing more) about.
Do what you need to do in your 50s - there is still time. You can do it later but it gets harder.
Remember to have fun. If you don’t like your job, change it. Work with people who are younger than you.
Figure out who you really treasure, and find ways to connect with them when it feels as though you don't have time. That's when you'll understand most deeply *why* you treasure them.
Notice something beautiful everyday. Explore, go on adventures, have fun. Live.
No one is watching you as closely as you think they are - so stop living as though they are.
You'd never speak to your sister this way - why would you speak to yourself this way?' - helps me to be kinder to myself!
Be kind. To others and yourself.
Unbelievably it took me to 50 or so to really get this, but now if I think 'oh, that's a bit odd' around something someone says or does PAY ATTENTION.
It's never too late to learn something new even if it's really hard to master. For me it was learning to surf at 35 & it changed my life, and then traditional timber framed construction using only hand tools at 55 which is changing 'how' I live.
If you are sick don't get dressed, stay in your night clothes. Your family will then know you need taking care of instead of expecting you to carry on. You can't look after other if you don't look after yourself.
Think more like a dog; live in the moment.
Good people do bad things and bad people do good things. You need to be nuanced in your approach to people.
Think for yourself but be open to advice from people you respect or trust. That said your body will tell you when a decision is right or wrong, especially your stomach aka "gut feeling". Take care
The biggest puzzle you will ever need to solve is yourself and with each piece you place there will be sorrows and regrets but also vanilla icing and an abundance of sugar!
Surrender to the universe.
Don't iron in the nude if you’re a fella.
Leave that email in your drafts for a couple of hours. Come back to it, wordsmith it and then send. Don’t send an email pissed off
I try to find the positive as I have a habit of mulling over problems - when in doubt, frolic!
In difficult times carry something beautiful in your mind. Shout out to all the other awesome women in their 50s.
You can plant five varieties of tomatoes on the same day. Each with a different “harvest in xx days” listed on the seed packet. All the tomatoes will be ripe at the same time. Seed packets lie.
Toxic people aren’t worth it.
Take time out to look at the night sky. Learn to navigate by the stars. It gives you a sense of proportion and keeps you humble. Find Sirius the brightest star. Light from Sirius takes 9 years to get here.
Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about.
Some people are nice Some people are nasty.
Your new life starts everyday.
Every day some poor bugger wakes up dead and it could be any of us. We only get one crack at this life and none of us know when or how it'll finish. Do what makes you happy.
Biggest life lesson for me has been trust your gut.
You can’t change the past. You can change your responses to things.
Engage with small humans. They understand way more than they can verbalize.
How you look now.... That's the best you're ever going to look.
Have spent most of my working life in technical worlds: It's all about people. Takes seconds to do damage and lifetimes to make it right. Don't right off strange bedfellows. You're not the most important person in the room.
Be your best friend.
You take yourself wherever you go … spent 30 years abroad so I know this much is true!
Don’t sweat the small stuff! Particularly useful for parents.
Be Kind. Also expressed as "if you can make someone's day, even if it takes a reasonable amount of effort, you should."
So much great advice here so I’ll just add: As human beings, we need each other - we are inextricably linked. And there are good people everywhere. This thread demonstrates both of these lessons.
Love your body. It will never be as perfect as it is today. Your body carries your brain around, it is AMAZING so be nice to it xx
Oh and appreciate being alive - every single day, appreciate it! There are so many in life that have not made it this far, you are one of the truly lucky ones even if it doesn't feel like it some days. Look for the tiny dots of beauty xx
Life begins at 50. Go for it.
If you are not enjoying every single second of social media, stay off social media. It only exists nowadays to harm those it finds fragile.
Your 50s are a good time to learn to use power tools.
If you have to cry, do it in the shower. Then dry your tears and face the day.
By 50, you know what you know.
People are the sum of all the things that make them, including their life experiences and the influence of the family environment. As a consequence a lot of people find it hard to understand that which they have no personal experience of. It's tough but try not to judge too hard
Don't sweat the small stuff :-) When you look back in life, dwelling on the bad things and bad people is a waste of time.
Our lives are like a book. Many chapters, some good, some bad, some fun, some sad. A new chapter is but a page turn away.
Just be you. 100% unapologetic you. The energy its takes to be anything other just isn't worth it. There is an amazing collection of opinions and personalities around us and we all learn in our own time to embrace most as they are.
You’re weird, I’m weird, we’re all weird. Normal doesn’t exist! Your weirdness makes you you so don’t apologies for it, bless people with it!
Don't report about US human rights abuses or you'll spend your 50th Birthday in solitary confinement.
Nobody cares as much as you do.
And here’s my 5 cents worth in the form of a simple sauerkraut recipe made from a few very simple things from the garden and the pantry.
Trust Your Gut Sauerkraut
Ingredients
1 small red cabbage
2 -3 red beets
1 Tbls caraway seeds or cumin if you prefer
2 Tbls Himalayan pink salt
Method
Shred the cabbage and beets in a food processor using the grater option.
Toss with the seeds and salt, massaging well with your hands (very therapeutic)
Let is sit for 30 minutes.
Spoon it into a large jar and press it down hard as you go so the juices come to the top and cover the cabbage. Leave 3cm of room at the top of the jar.
Place a weight on top to help the juices rise then seal loosely and keep at room temperature for 1 – 3 days.
Transfer to the fridge where it will keep for several months.