Having breezed my way through Julia's last book (written with her grand-nephew), "My Life in France", I was struck by both her approach to creativity and her sensible thoughts on aging. The connection between those two topics might seem rather obscure, but strong creative practices keep us youthful and flexible and sensible approaches to aging support continued creativity.
Creative life requires resiliency, the ability to adjust goals to fend off defeat and depression; a balanced approach to productivity. Recently a visit to my favorite technology laboratory yielded some lively feedback on where creativity and money making share space. Currently too many business types have bored Gen Y to insensibility with guidance on making money with no commentary on keeping alive creatively.
Julia's adventures with her husband in France framed the beginning of her life as a chef and writer. She embraced French cooking in a manner that literally launched what has become the slow food movement in the U.S. Her discipline and thorough analysis of cooking and then producing recipes revolutionized the structure of cookbooks forever and she essentially created the venue for cooking on television. Her portrayal of herself and those around her as maturing, growing, changing individuals has challenged my thinking on how to embrace the march of time with joy.
I have spent the last several months perfecting my own cooking and have found a new mantra for experiencing life and friends. After years of hiatus from professional cooking I have found a new serenity in the kitchen. The content on the plate is enhanced by the presentation, understanding what went into the preparation. My life as an artist is extended from artistic performance, singing, dancing, designing and writing, to presenting an artful picture that nourishes the spirit and the body.
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