…and find the potential within you”
Happy January!
As the first month of a new year continues to fly by, and with February just around the corner, I thought I would consider the essence of truth and what it means to us all.
“We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives…not looking for flaws, but for potential”
These words by journalist Ellen Goodman demonstrate the new approach that we can embrace at the start of a new year. We often like to consider the imperfections in ourselves and how we should work on those, and forget about the true potential which is within all of us. I have enjoyed listening to a range of music genres over the past few weeks and the chorus of one song in particular has connected with me.
I've waited all my life
To cross this line
To the only thing that's true
So I will not hide
It's time to try
Anything to be with you
All my life I've waited
This is true...
[“True” by Ryan Cabrera]
Just like all music and all songs, there are many different interpretations as to the essence of this song. However, if we consider ourselves within this song and in relation to the previous quote by Ellen, there is an interesting comparison. If we think about that true potential within us all, that could be the subject of ‘you’ in the song. We can spend our life looking around and waiting for our true potential to appear, wondering whether we need to hide and wait for possibilities to come to us. Instead, what if we embraced the idea that true potential is already within us and we have everything we need to find new possibilities and opportunities?
This doesn’t mean that we can achieve everything, but hopefully gives us the confidence that we are sufficient as we are, and we can go out and seek opportunities for ourselves.
I have recently been regularly sailing and competing at club racing which is overall a very invigorating experience but can be equally frustrating. Knowing that your every move can equally be positive or negative, depending on weather conditions, other boats and your own ability to work well as a team, is a challenging place to be. However, I find that it is a useful way to move myself out of my comfort zone and do my best on every leg of the course. And remembering true potential at every opportunity.
Considering the etymology of ‘true’ we look back to Old English triewe (West Saxon), treowe (Mercian) "faithful, trustworthy, honest, steady in adhering to promises, friends, etc.," from Proto-Germanic *treuwaz "having or characterized by good faith" from PIE *drew-o-, a suffixed form of the root *deru- "be firm, solid, steadfast." This is useful to think about when we think about our attitude to the new year.
Being steadfast in our beliefs and in our self-confidence is a useful way for us to move forwards.
I am delighted to say that I have continued with more episodes of my own mini podcast-type series @snippetswithsitara which featured stars from every walk of life, talking about their own life experiences, how they deal with their challenges and their advice for future generations…the recent episode features BBC Breakfast presenter Mike Bushell and his broadcast career thus far. I am always looking for new individuals to feature in this series, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any suggestions! Please follow the account on Instagram and TikTok @snippetswithsitara to receive the latest updates and episodes!
Thank you for all your continued support for the brand Instagram account.
Here are some of my favourite January foodie favourites, enjoyed especially in celebration of my birthday, and surrounded by loved ones which really is the best way to enjoy good food!
I conclude the first blog of January with the following words by Anne Truitt:
“January is my favourite month when the light is plainest, least coloured. And I like the feeling of beginnings”
Enjoy the last few hours of January!
Lots of love,
Sitara xxx
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