Morning Kitchen Dances

Shifting Away From My Beloved Morning Routines

I am a creature of habit. I love routines and once I establish one it can be difficult to break away from.

This morning I indulged in my favorite routine I’ve developed since I started working for myself: making breakfast.

Last year A friend of mine recommended a book to me to help with my weight loss goals. The book emphasized how important it was to eat withing the first 30 minutes of waking up. I remember balking this idea when I first read it. Who wants to eat as soon as they wake up? Who is even hungry that early? But it turns out my penchant for routine applies to my body as well.

After the first couple of days of eating first thing in the morning, my body began to crave and expect breakfast- often before I even knew I was hungry. Even now as I'm typing this, my stomach is rumbling displeased with my decision to capture my thoughts over feeding the engine of my belly. Breakfast has always been my favorite meal, but I never knew I could get so much pleasure from the process of making it every morning. Even the sun it seems, greets me eagerly and impatiently on days I sleep beyond the failsafe snoozes of my alarm clock. It feels as it though it too wants to see me revel in my kitchen and bear witness to my morning joy where it provides the spotlight for my solo kitchen dances.

Mornings have become a peaceful ritual where the sound of a boiling kettle brings anticipatory serenity. Despite this, my home is rarely quiet. Sounds from the television often fill the spaces void of conversation- including my own voice. My vocal chords are chronically stubborn and unwilling to make a sound until they are absolutely ready. My days begin in my bedroom with the chatter of talking heads discussing the weather and global happenings before I eventually escape to my living room to turn on a show of my choosing. For me, this time is best used to catch-up on the latest episodes of my current viewing pleasure while pouring egg whites into a skillet crowded with sauteed spinach. Often me, and whatever James-Bond-like character that’s on my screen, co-exist in a morning sanctuary accompanied by the sounds of the light rail, rushing to move thousands of commuters closer to their workplace destinations in the city.

When I'm feeling ambitious, I run the dishwasher or start a load of clothes during this small window of time, and allow the swooshing sounds of running water, clacking dishes and sloshing apparel to join my morning symphony. The sucking sound from the eager magnets that sit along the lining of my refrigerator door provide an out of cadence rhythm similar to that of an amateur symbols player. The soft booming of painted wood cabinets decorate our homemade masterpiece as I reach for seasonings and ingredients to finish my plate. It is these sounds I cherish most before finally sitting down to marvel at the feast I've made for myself.

By 9am my home is usually filled with the smell of fresh coffee and the sauteing of whatever meat I've chosen as my protein of choice for the day. Because I love routine, often, the meals I make are similar in nature. Today I’ve chosen turkey sausage, egg whites with spinach and toast with almond butter and banana slices. Tomorrow it might be turkey bacon with eggs, a fruit bowl and chia seeds. Despite this consistency, I am always pleased with the outcome, surprised by my appetite and delighted in the taste of my creations. Breakfast is my most anticipated time of the day, and my most consistent space of joy, escape and tranquility.  

So why am I writing an ode to my kitchen and the mornings I love spending in my home so much?

I’ve been running my consultancy now for almost 6 years, and if I’m honest, had you told me this in 2019 when I started my business I wouldn’t have believed you. While I was not enthusiastic about it at first, starting Touch of Whit Creative has been the one of the best experiences in my life so far. The ease at which I was able to manage my company surprised me and the success I’ve had because of it has reaffirmed everything I already knew about myself. I love this shit and, when given a chance to prove it, I’m really good at my job.

That said, I am a creature of habit. And one of my habits consists of doing something to change my life in a dramatic way every 5 years. That can mean moving, going back to school, or in this case- going back to corporate.

Once I’ve conquered something, it is common for me to begin looking for the next challenge and the next way I can expand my own creative and intellectual abilities. It seems we’ve come to that inevitable fork in the road once more. Touch of Whit for me, was never supposed to be a final destination for my career- just a next step. Now, I’m hoping my next chapter will be one where I can utilize my 13+ years of experience to serve as a central brand strategy resource for an organization or creative agency. The goal is to shift from just providing robust inputs to getting more involved in the construction of strategically informed outputs.

With forward movement comes a bit of sacrifice.

While I’m excited for this next iteration of my life, I’m recognizing what I’d be giving up- these peaceful, serenity filled moments in my kitchen with me and the sun rises that I’ve grown so fond of. The coziness of my home has become a safety blanket for me in a world that seems more and more dangerous, uncertain and unwelcoming.

As RTO office mandates become the norm I’m curious to see what this transition back to my old reality will look and feel like and how I’ll grow to face this challenge. In my most ideal world, what I’d gain from this transition would outweigh what stand to lose, but this is something only time can tell.

I’m also aware that it is an incredibly horrible time to be looking for a full time role. With layoffs becoming the norm and a push for women, especially Black women, to be removed from the workplace mounting, I can’t say that I’m not nervous for what to come. Despite this, I remain hopeful and optimistic about my future in my favorite industry, despite the potential bumpy road ahead.

Well. Fingers Crossed.