bread and wine

{photo credit: me}

first comes first. happy new year! it would seem wrong not to acknowledge the new year since it's kind of a big deal and all. 2013 was filled to the brim with all kinds of experiences for me. it was last may when i started my "year of being brave" and even though it hasn't been a complete year since i put myself up to this challenge, i can say without a doubt that i've done just that. lots of bravery, courage, trying new things, saying "yes". i will eventually be doing a recap of sorts, so be on the lookout! hope you all had a fun NYE. here's to 2014!

and now on to the main event. book two of my christmas books.

bread and wine by shauna niequist

this book was going around the blogosphere like a crazy storm for a while. everyone was reading it. everyone was reviewing it. everyone was, like, so loving it. i'll be honest. the title alone proved to me that it was going to be a good read. bread and wine is one of the great gastronomical combinations the world has ever known. i didn't need to read a blogger book review to tell me that. i was on board.

however, for whatever reason, i started instead with one of shauna's other books, cold tangerines. i got about a page in and had to get a pen before i continued reading because this lady had some things to say. and these things were good. things about valuing family, yourself, and your talents. things about falling down but getting back up. about dusting the bruised pride off your hands and knees and trying again. her writing style was easy to read and flowed from one page to the next. she was self-depricating and honest about both her struggles and her triumphs. i liked this lady very much.

when i went to the storyline conference in nashville in october, shauna was one of the speakers. she was as i expected-funny, honest, pulled together. i tried to be cool about being in her presence, but the flash from my camera kept giving me away. i was audience member "totallyfreakingoutrightnow".

one of her speaking points really resounded with me. our past stories, if we let them, will hold us back from our future stories. huh. let me think about that. so, our past is important. our past is what has made us into who we are today. i am the product of my experiences, and that is crucial. however, when we dwell on what was, what used to be, what people said about us, our regrets, our mistakes, etc., we become trapped in our old stories and can't move forward. we can't make progress. it was such an "ah-ha!" moment for me.

this is a small example but a frequent one. i can think for hours and days and weeks about a stupid comment i made to someone in conversation. long after they've forgotten, i'm analyzing why i said what i said and how i would change my words if i could go back in time. it's so tiring. she explained what holding on to our past does to us but that we are capable of moving forward. hearing this brought a sense of calm liberation upon me: oh, ok. it can be different.

so, i said all that to say this: i am excited to start bread and wine. this book is a "collection of essays about family relationships, friendships, and the meals that bring us together." {source} it highlights the bond that exists between food and our personal relationships. (i have a personal relationship with my food, but i doubt she's talking about that). the book also features an assortment of recipes between its pages. one is called "bacon wrapped dates". ohhhh, now i understand what all the fuss was about. 

you can find out more about shauna here.