New Year's Resolution #1: Use All the Things

"Start living now. Stop saving the good china for that special occasion. Stop withholding your love until that special person materializes. Every day you are alive is a special occasion. Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God." — Mary Manin Morrissey

Resolutions generally involve losing something (weight, clutter) or gaining something (time, money). While my resolutions involve both of those, one in particular involves using what I have and making the most of it—particularly in the kitchen.

When I got married over 11 years ago, I used the opportunity to acquire some great cooking and serving dishes because I love to entertain. We had just bought a house with lots of space, so it was exciting unpacking the goodies and finding places for each and every one.

We had a few years of major Holiday, barbecue, and dinner events where I was able to use some of these treasures; then we fell into tragic circumstances, we lost the house, and the majority of these things ended up stored in boxes. After some fits, starts, and a few weeks in an extended stay hotel, we ended up in a place that was smaller than the living room at our old home, with little storage. So all those serving pieces, bakeware, and glasswares ended up staying in boxes—for seven years.

Twenty-eighteen afforded the blessing of moving to larger digs; not as large or as much storage space as our old home, but just enough to be able to finally unpack those boxes again and rediscover the wealth of items at my disposal.

In my re-discovery, my goal is not to get rid of any of it, but to USE it. Not just for entertaining and special occasions, but for every day.

So when I have a glass of wine or a drink, I ALWAYS use the good glasses.

I have been cooking up a storm over the holidays and into the New Year, and have been using my beautiful Emile Henry bakeware instead of my Pyrex or loaf tins.

What this does is break patterns of holding back and waiting on "someday". Living in the present moment involves utilizing the tools you have in that moment. Someday may never come, so in terms of my culinary treasures, I am living for now, and treating me and my husband as if we are the honored guests, and as though dining together is the special occasion.

Hoping this will be one of the game changers of 2019.