In some far-reaching corner at the back of my mind, I keepĀ hoping and praying that I won’t have to return to a life of reality.
Reality in the sense of a 9-to-5 job at the office, working for someone else’s dream and putting the brakes on my own.Ā Reality in the sense of a stable monthly salary from a position that will give me economic stability and security, but nothing that makes my heart beat with excitement.
In the last two months, I’ve been trying my hand at doing work that matters – refining myself as a writer, recipe developer, food stylist and food photographer, showing up day after day, whether I feel like it or not.
There’s progress for sure, andĀ while it’s not as quick as I hope for it to be, I know there’s a slow and steady movement towards my dream.
I dream of using my words and photos to touch and impact those who see them. I dream of inspiring and moving something inside people’s hearts. I dream of making my life count.
What I’ve discovered in the past few months of working towards this dream, is that when you work for your dream, there will always be ups and downs and moments of triumph followed too quickly by moments of discouragement.
But despite the highs and the lows, which aren’t always in our control, there are things that we can determine – things like being consistent, reaching towards our goals and trying over and over again, even if we keep falling down. And when we continue pushing through, reaching forward, beating the resistance that’s trying to derail us, results start to show.
There’s an exhilaration that takes over and an adrenaline rush which pours through my veins whenever I’m doing work that I truly love.
Every time I write a post that resonates with my readers, its makes my heart beat loudly, like the ringing of church bells on a clear Sunday morning. Each time I hit a recipe that is well-received, and people ask for seconds, I punch the air in victory.
Every time I styleĀ a plate of food and the composition calls out to me, I feel a light tingle run over my skin. And every time someone tells me that my food photography has dramatically improved, I know deep down inside that I’m doing things right.
Life feels optimum when I’mĀ doing the things I love the most, and maybe that’s whatĀ makes me feel like I’m living a dream, instead ofĀ the reality that IĀ thinkĀ people expect me to live.
Reading Jane’s thoughts on her bold move to give up her secured bank position in order to return to Buenos Aires, I came to a jerk and realized that I’d been looking at it all wrong.
In Jane’s poignant words, “By the end of the day, the only thing that is important is that I am living the life I want. And as long as I donāt have to beg, borrow or steal, and can still live and support the life I have as part of my bigger vision, nothing else matters.”
Whoever said that the life I’m living now is not real?
Which part of it is not real?
I’m taking concrete actions to reach a goal that’s mine and mine alone – showing up every single day and putting in the effort to take me closer to my dream. That’s pretty much damn real to me.
Even if I don’t have a car or a house in my name, or a six-figure annual pay check, it doesn’t in anyway make the life that I’m currently living any less tangible than it is now.
Neither would having a ton of material things make my life more real, because I am on track to reaching my dreams.
So in this wonderful, amazing life that I am so fortunate to live, I give thanks.
Here in the US, November is time for Thanksgiving, and I am so grateful to God for this beautiful, real life that I get to live.
Today, let’s give thanks.
ThanksgivingĀ is synonymous with roast turkey, and turkey is almost always served with cranberry sauce.
Here’s a simple, homemade recipe for rich cranberry sauce with a hint of lemon, made from scratch in 20 minutes flat. It’s soĀ easy and convenient to make, it just doesn’t make sense for you to buy it.
Take a bowlĀ of homemade cranberry sauce to your Thanksgiving dinner, and wait for them to pile on the praises.
20-Minute Homemade Cranberry Sauce
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 1 large bowl 1x
Description
A thick and delicious homemade cranberry sauce with a hint of citrus lemon that’s ready in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of water
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 4 cups of fresh cranberries, cut into halves
Instructions
- In a large pot, place sugar and water and bring mixture to a boil
- When mixture starts boiling, place cranberries and lemon juice in and return to a boil, then bring down to medium-low and let sauce simmer for around 15 minutes until it has achieved a thick jam-like consistency
- Store in glass jars in the fridge
Notes
Adapted from: Simply Recipes
- Category: Sauce
- Cuisine: Gluten-free
Hi,
Do you serve this cold from the fridge or heat it up? I notice a lot of recipes tell you to heat it before serving.
Thanks, Beth
Hi Beth, I served this cold from the fridge, but it depends on how you like it. If you prefer a warm sauce to go with your meats, simple add a bit of water and heat it up in a small sauce pan before serving. Hope that helps Beth!
Hi, yes thanks.
Just made a batch. It is in the refrigerator and ready to go for Thanksgiving. My first ever attempt at homemade cranberry sauce and it tastes great!
Thanks, Beth
★★★★★
So glad it worked out fine for you!! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Hi Felicia,
It is amazing how you can so easily whip up such wonderful recipes in such short time to share them on your blog to bless all your readers.
Be encouraged my Darling. You are indeed moving toward your dream – closer each day as you take each step doing the stuff your heart desires. Continue to be who God has made you to be and live your life of purpose with passion.
Always cultivating an attitude of thankfulness for everything that comes your way, God will, in His sovereign will, bring more wonderful things for you to be grateful for.
I am thankful and rejoice for the month of November which is also a special month for both you and Juan.
Have a wonderful time this November š
As always, lots of love and blessings from home in Sunny Singapore,
Mum
★★★★★
hi Felicia
I hope many would be inspired by your sharing. You stated the reality of life and situation. Staying positive, nimble to adjust and persevere determine one’s direction towards the goal. Ultimately it is the personal satisfaction of seeing thing coming into fruition. And even it does not turn out the way it was intended, at least one tries.learns and continues to move on from there – just as one learns to cycle on two wheels till it balances itself.
Love
Daddy
Daddy!!! Thanks for your love and support and belief in me! Really really appreciate everything you do. Love you!
Thank you mummy..! Thank you for your constant prayers and love and support – I think being able to count on your encouragement as I chase my dreams is such a privilege š
beautifully written my dear. yes, your life is wonderfully real now, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! go towards that beautiful dream of yours – if we want something hard enough, the universe will open doors. sending hugs and kisses from Bs As! <3
p.s. i love your photos!! they are wonderfully taken, and you're me hungry with every post!
Babe, thank you so much for your encouragement..! And yes, the universe will open doors, wide and welcoming for you and for me and for all those who dare to fight for their dreams! š And yay!! I’m glad the photos make you hungry :))