In your life, there are an incredible amount of opportunities that willingly present themselves to you. Whether that be a moment that creates a spark of love between two people or it is a moment that brings the slightest smile to your face. Each of these moments come and go like a cooling breeze on a warm august night. So how do you grasp them and where do you look to find them? These two questions and all the ones in between are what drives many humans to better themselves personal and socially.
When I walk down the street, I'm not looking in front of me to see what is ahead. I am looking down and around my feet. There is such an abundance of edible foliage that we miss while walking the dog or making our way to work or even our favorite restaurant. Not until recently did i realize how much was edible around our feet and the homes we live in. What we consider weeds that take the sun from our precious tomatoes or squashes are actually delicious herbs and greens that have bold and distinct flavors.
Dandelions and daisies. Growing up, most people in their right mind would wither pick the long single dandelion stem with the sphere of fuzzies and wither swing around their head or make a wish and blow all of the fuzzies off. It is a satisfying past time that almost everyone can relate to. But what about the rest of the plant? The fun is certainly not over after you run through the fields destroying the olfactory of allergic children. Surrounding the flower is a bed of brightly bitter, green leaves that are extremely healthy for you and your immune system. Not only are they good for you, they are extremely versatile in there applications. The dandelion leaf can be grilled, sautéed, steamed, braised, used as a wrapper and hascheed (finely chopped with aromatics). Furthermore, the golden yellow petals of the bloomed flower can be turned into jam. Still just a weed?
How about the Daisy bush? The bright and pure white or gold petals of the blossomed flower cascaded by a landscape of beautifully sculpted pouches of forest green leaves; most of which is edible. These bushes have been around for centuries and have most likely been ransacked by young men struck by cupids arrow. the flowers themselves can be used as an aromatic for grilled fish while the leaves can be tossed in a salad, sliced super thin to mix in with rice or blanched and pureed to cut through the fattiness of a wagyu pave.
These "weeds" or flowers, Chick weed, lambs quarter, begonias, yarrow and even marigolds, can be utilized in so many more ways than just as a nuisance. They are missed along side the road when you drive to work and they get tossed over the fence when we want to showcase our beautiful garden beds. But if given a closer look and just a little more thought, they can transform the way you eat and can save your wallet some serious pain. The same goes with life and the messages the universe sends us every single day. All of the little signs that we push away are more vital to our physical and mental health than we may know. Taking the time to learn how to appreciate all of the summer breezes (even in the dead of winter) can drastically change our understanding of the world and our own selves. Perhaps it is time to do away with our old habits of vicarious living and take full advantage of the life that has been so generously given to us. Any life, no matter how easy or difficult, painful or pleasure filled is a gift. Take the time to understand the reasonings behind all actions and thoughts. It does not matter if they are relevant or not, there is always some knowledge to be had.
"Life is not something we are stuck in because we can't go anywhere more fun. Life is an adventure, a bold game. I am playing it, I invite you all to join me." (Terry Schott, Digital Heretic)
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