The other day I was talking to a friend about the cafe and all of a suddent I got it. The fact that I have a restaurant had not quite sunk in until that moment. It was sort of magical.
When you are creating something, you are in it and doing it and making it happen- and sometimes it is hard to step back and actually see what you have done.
Life takes time and effort...and moments of pause to reflect.
photographer + foodie = food porn
My list is varied but you can see parts of it shining through every thing I do.
Building things. Shaping people's experiences. Providing jobs. Feeding people. Knowing. Working hard. Loving hard. Organization. Seeking. Documenting. Sampling. Doing good. Creating spaces. Encouraging others. Standing back. Family. Details. Friends. Meeting people. Making a difference. Believing. Soul work. No regrets. For the long haul.
Identify your bliss and make that your life's work.
The cafe is open. After nine months of planning and construction and menu workshopping - we opened our doors on Monday. In 4 days, we have had over 500 customers. We have gotten some really great press and unbelievable support from the neighborhood and friends.
Starting a new business is exhilarating. We have been training and creating systems and making things happen. So much to do, so many people to greet. So much energy exerted.
The other day, as the adreneline started to fade, I got tired. A deep, in your bones tired that not even the stellar coffee we serve, could revive. I knew that attacking my pile of work was futile - so I took a hot bath and went to sleep. It was deep and dark sleep, not my usual nodding slumber and when I woke up, I felt clearer and stronger than I have in years.
I have always regarded sleep as a waste of time, but this week, it was the most practical and meaningful thing I could do.
We are days away from opening the cafe and we are working hard finalizing the menu, tweaking recipes, and creating systems. Yesterday I had a team of experts to help with the task and in a moment of clarity I realized that I needed to get out of the way and let them do their job. It felt good to know it, and to admit it, and to walk away. I was able to focus on the bigger picture, delegate more errands, and get a lot more done .
Knowing when to get out of your own way is both practical and meaningful.
As we get ready to open the cafe, we are prepping, and cooking, and sampling, and learning new things every day. It feels good to learn new things.
testing the toaster
When you practice anything, you get better at it.
Put in the time to be a better cook, a better friend, a better lover, a better person, a better writer, a better parent, a better boss, a better communicator, a better example. Practice, it is personal.
