Karla’s Korner: Life and Lemon Crackers

Life and Lemon Crackers…

My grandmother used to make lemon crackers when I was a young girl. Not really a cracker, more like a round lemon shortbread cookie with little holes from the tines of a fork pressed gently into the top of each one, she made these delicacies several times a year. At the time I had no idea just what an tedious process it was to make these tasty treats; I always thought it was just another cookie. While the ingredients were relatively simple the process of making and storing them were precise and essential to having just the right flavor in the end. The key was not to eat them right away but rather store them for a while so that they could become as she put it “more lemony”. And unlike most cookies, if stored properly, you could eat them several months after she baked them. I miss her and her lemon crackers.
This week as I sat quietly in my writing chair thoughts of those delightful “lemony” treats crept into my mind not so much because I wanted one, although that would be wonderful, but because of the metaphor it brings to mind. You see, the ingredients in the lemon crackers are relatively simple, rather plain and ordinary, however, when precisely combined the results are a light, flavorful somewhat crispy cookie like cracker that goes great with a cup of hot tea.

Life, I think is a lot like those old fashioned lemon crackers. All too often we expect life to be filled with ooey gooey sweetness of let’s say a chocolate chip cookie all of the time and when it becomes rather ordinary, mundane or unconventional, like the lemon cracker, we feel disappointed and let down. What we need to remember is that much like the ingredients of the lemon cracker individually each seems rather dull; however, when mixed together the ingredients create something that is pleasing to our palate.

How often do we try to fill every minute of every day with the biggest, brightest, most exciting activities we can only to find ourselves exhausted at the end of the experience and feeling less than fulfilled. How often do we over look or ignore quiet, simple elements of life because we believe it won’t be worth the time or trouble or that it’s not exciting enough? Life is much like the lemon cracker in the sense that it is made up of some pretty ordinary, simple stuff but I think it’s during those ordinary simple times that we learn who we really are. Being able to embrace the everyday stuff as a blessing, a gift, if you will, is essential in our life journey. Quiet, down time is just as important as the more exciting fast paced events which allow us to create the necessary balance we need to have a productive, satisfying, meaningful life. Each ingredient in our life recipe when kept separate is dormant and less useful, however, when we mix them all together we get what I consider a lemon cracker life; sweet, flavorful and long lasting.

Motivational speaker and author Steve Maraboli shares his thoughts on life balance stating “Life is a balanced system of learning and evolution. Whether pleasure or pain; every situation in your life serves a purpose. It is up to us to recognize what that purpose could be.” This week I encourage you to create the necessary balance for your life; a unique combination of “ingredients” that will in the end produce the lemon cracker life you deserve.

Peace,
Karla

I think we all need a touch point a place we can go to be inspired. Karla is my children’s teacher, a good friend, and a person with a heart of gold. I hope that her words will inspire you to do more. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with. It is important to listen with your heart and proceed with your eyes open. Enjoy!

Read more Karla’s Korner, also please visit Karla’s Lifetime Moms page and read her articles.

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