I love mushrooms. And it looks like Dan Cederholm is a big fan of them as well.
This might not seem like earth-shattering news, but there was one sentence in Dan’s post that really struck a chord:
It’s funny how we box ourselves in.
I’ll admit it: I am often extremely rash in making decisions that pertain to my tastes and interests. Unlike Dan, I’ve always known that I love mushrooms, but I’ve been guilty of boxing myself in in the past. A few examples…
“I don’t wear jeans.” It’s true, I was one of those snobby kids in high school that thought men should only wear khakis and chinos (and dress pants, of course) so that they always look professional. That was, of course, until I slipped into a fresh pair of Hugo Boss jeans in college and never looked back. Now, I own more pairs of jeans than there are days of the week.
“I don’t eat eggplant.” These days, I find that statement absolutely ridiculous. Eggplant is one of my favorite vegetables. There was a time, however, when I could barely look at an aubergine without feeling sick. Now I actually use eggplant in my cooking more than any other vegetable.
“I don’t watch hockey.” A real sports fan in Canada (especially Toronto) can get frustrated easily. Even when big things are happening in other major sports, every sports broadcast will lead with hockey news. There was a time when the World Series was on at the same time as pre-season NHL, and almost every bar in the city was showing hockey. That’s just ridiculous. So you can understand why I grew up hating hockey. While it is still not my favorite sport, these days I’m always glad to watch some NHL playoffs and some Memorial Cup highlights.
“I don’t eat onions.” Yeah, so that hasn’t changed. I can’t stand onions.
All that being said, I just wanted to share these examples to get you all thinking about how easy it is to say the word “no” or “never.” Next time you box yourself in, think about Dan and his mushrooms.
Have you changed your mind — and climbed out of the box — on something you felt strongly about recently?
I’ve never tried tofu, but have always been averse to the idea of it, saying “I don’t like tofu.” However- I recently came upon this recipe, which not only makes me want to try it, but cook it myself! I even found some Chinese 5 Spice Tofu at the store this evening, so I’m really looking forward to trying it out.
Oh, you must try tofu. I was skeptical of it at first (though I had not boxed myself out of enjoying it) but once I discovered all the wonderful things you can do with it, I was sold!
I also cannot eat onions raw. Seriously cannot. Cooked is another story. But believe me, I’ve tried.
Also, my boyfriend cannot wear jeans. He is really convinced that they just look silly on him.
Haha Jenna. Good to know I’m not the only one that has these problems. =)
Mmm. Mushrooms!
Kia Ora Sameer.
I hated mushrooms as a child. But I loved to gather them from the fields. As a child, I lived for a number of years in Nyasaland (now Malawi). I used to collect mushrooms with my father on a Saturday morning. We found them growing in ‘fairy rings’ which were the natural way the mushrooms grow in the wild.
But now, I live in the city and buy the mushrooms at a price.
Mmm. Mushrooms!.
Ka kite
from Middle-earth
Oh wow…collecting mushrooms in the wild! Sounds exciting. My only experience with mushrooms has been buying them at the grocery store or in restaurants.
I am not crazy about mushrooms, but I only let myself pick out the bigger ones. I make myself eat the smaller ones - that way hopefully they’ll grow on me and I won’t always dislike them. I know many people love them!
I also dislike eating fish, but if someone raves about how good their fish is and offers me a bite, I will usually accept. Again, trying not to be a “disliker” of anything.
I generally am terrified of heights but I try to conquer this. In fact, before summer’s end I hope to go ziplining! Life is so much more fun when we conquer our fears and welcome new experiences with an open mind and heart. I try to do this whenever possible. :)
Great post!