Learning to like cheesecake

I grew up with a pretty large extended family, and we often hosted family gatherings and celebrations at our house.

One Thanksgiving, along with all of the customary pies, my aunt brought along a homemade cheesecake.

We’re pie people in our family, and I had never had cheesecake before. I remember looking at it and thinking what a weird choice of dessert it was. Thanksgiving was for pies. Why was she bringing cheesecake?

Well, no one touched that cheesecake, and it got left behind in our fridge.

A day went by.

Two days went by.

And finally, on day three, I figured I’d try a piece.

I can’t say that it was love at first bite. It was unlike anything I had eaten before - mushy and firm at the same time, sweet but not cloyingly sweet.

No one else was interested in even trying it.

So I figured I’d run an experiment: I’d keep trying that cheesecake until I learned to like it.

It took three more pieces.

And then I ended up eating that whole cheesecake just about single-handedly. (Because after the hard work of learning to like it, I couldn’t bear to see it go to waste! 😂)

Over the years, I’ve tried all kinds of things over and over again to see if I can learn to like them.

Some things, like gardening and lifting weights, came pretty quickly.
Other things, like yoga, took lots of tries over lots of years before I found what clicked.
Others, like yogurt and peas, I’m still not convinced I’ll ever enjoy. But I keep trying!

I always figured everyone does this - trying things until they like them.
But recently I realized that it’s not true.

“You know how I keep trying things to see if I like them?” I asked my husband. “Not everyone does that, do they?”

“Nope,” he said. “Most people generally stop trying something when they first decide they don’t like it.”

So now when I celebrate things I love about myself, this quality of coming back and trying things over and over again with an open mind - the hope that this will be the time I decide I like something - always tops the list.

What is your relationship with trying new things?
What do you love about yourself?

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Use these prompts as written or as inspiration to uncover what you need in your life this week. And know that I’m always here to support you and answer questions you have along the way!

• Write about a time when you tried something new.

• What was it?

• How did it go?

• What did you learn?

• Make a list of things you want to try.

• Make a list of things you want to try again.

• What would your life be like if you learned to like some things you thought you didn’t like?

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One Journaling Idea I Love:

Calendars

You can use a calendar for more than just keeping track of appointments.

Trying using yours a mini-journal:

• Write what you’re grateful for each day

• Note the best thing that happened

• Mark who you connected with

• Record your workouts (or any other data you want to track!)

I recently talked with a new mom who was concerned she didn’t have time to journal, but didn’t want to forget all the cute new things her baby was learning. My solution? Use your calendar to note them all!

What would you track on your calendar?

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Looking for Some Accountability with Your Journaling?

Introducing the Journal-along Membership!

This is for folks who don’t necessarily need any help with their journaling, but want the accountability.

Join me to journal on Zoom Monday - Thursday mornings from 7:30 - 8:00 am Eastern.

This will be a silent working session and cameras off are totally fine. I’ll screen share a prompt each day for folks who wish to use it.

Stay for the whole 30 minutes or pop in for a long as makes sense for you.

Just $47 a month.

Sign up for your spot and to be held accountable HERE.

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More Good Stuff

• Good Things Come to Those Who Journal: The Livestream is back! Tune in on Tuesday at 8pm Eastern on LinkedIn, YouTube, or Facebook.

• Did you see I have a new journaling guide? Get your free copy of Five Questions to Create A Journaling Practice You Love HERE.

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Happy Journaling!