Grilled Peaches, and Putting to Rest the Comparison Game

There’s nothing quite like delicious peaches in the summer time, with their delectably sweet flavor, especially when grilled and topped with a dollop of creamy vanilla mascarpone; and in the realm of people, there’s nobody else quite like you, nor me, and that is exactly as it is meant to be, cherished and embraced.

Nothing compares to summer peaches in their perfect ripeness, when their sweet-tangy juices run plentiful, and their candy-like, almost floral, aroma enlivens and completely captures one’s tastebuds and sense of smell.

If a gloriously delicate peach, slightly firm to the touch yet generously yielding, with its watercolor-rosie-pink hue is what the body is craving and longs to experience, then nothing else can come close to being a substitution for the unique pleasure that only it can provide.

We wouldn’t dream of comparing a fragrant peach in its sweet perfection with a banana, a lemon, an avocado, a rotisserie chicken, or frankly any other food—how silly would that be?

A peach is, quite beautifully, its own special thing, bringing to one’s palette a one-of-a-kind experience that only it alone can bring.

So why do we—humans—seem to constantly compare ourselves to one another?

Why do we struggle so much with seeing the spectacular individuality that is held within our “self”; with believing that it is enough, and that what we specifically bring to the world is exactly what’s needed?

It seems that trusting who we are and what we uniquely bring to this existence can be a very difficult thing for us.

Many of us so very frequently look across the street at what our neighbors have, or what they’re doing differently from us, or how they are living; or maybe watch how other parents are raising their kids, what they allow them to participate in or not.

Or maybe we obsessively keep track of how our friends are either further ahead in their careers, or behind where we are (or how other bloggers are running their blogs—how often they’re posting and with what kind of content… ).

We seem to be constantly comparing ourself to others in some way, shape, or form.

Observing our surroundings and the people within them is not the problem; it’s good to be inspired by what we witness, to be uplifted by those things within others that bring positivity and light into the world; and it’s especially good when it creates a longing to do the same in our own authentic way.

That, to me, is the best and highest use of our ego, and the highest, most invigorating use of something we think of as “envy”, since in its ideal state it provides that desire for us as an individual to want to do better, to grow, and to continue to move upward and evolve.

But where things tend to go awry is when we compare ourselves negatively, or at the expense of our well-being and that of others; and as a result, begin to feel animosity, or a sense of being a victim.

Out of that way of thinking, nothing good can grow, nothing can become fruitful and produce nourishment and sustenance for either ourselves or anyone else.

If somehow, we could begin to see that the unique way in which we have individually been created is exactly what is needed; that if we could begin to see our qualities and attributes as a form of currency that we bring to the world and contribute something with, then we could focus less on what others are doing and how, and more on taking what we already have within to the highest form that it can be taken, bringing the most good to this world we live in.

It’s learning to run the race that you’ve been given to run; to tend to the plot of land that you’ve been given to care for; to write the messages that you’ve been given to write, in your own unique voice, and then sharing them; to create the art, or teach the subject, or to sing in the way you feel inspired to—that is what the world needs.

Our roles have already been cast.

There’s not another person in the over 7 billion of us now living on the planet that could ever beat you at being you, or me at being me.

We need one another to be who we are created to be.

I wonder what would happen if we could finally put to rest the dark side of this comparison game that we so often play?

Would we begin to see and experience more contentment, more joy, more love, and more kindness in this world?

Would we spend less time speculating and more time fulfilling our own destinies?

I think it’s very possible; and I know that it would certainly be so much more colorful, juicy, and sweet than comparing ourselves when, truly, we’re incomparable.

Taste what’s good and pass it on.

Ingrid

Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Mascarpone and Toasted Hazelnuts
by Ingrid Beer

Print Recipe

Yield: Serves 4-8

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces cold mascarpone cheese
• 4 tablespoons agave, divided use
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 4 ripe yet slightly firm peaches, halved and pit removed
• 1/4 cup toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped
• Mint

Preparation:

-Spoon the cold mascarpone into a small bowl, and drizzle in 2 tablespoons of the agave, plus the vanilla extract; using a fork, gently blend just until combined, taking care not to over mix the mascarpone as it has a tendency to then become grainy; cover and chill.

-Place your grill pan over medium-high heat; while it heats, brush some of the remaining 2 tablespoons of the agave over the cut side of the peaches, and place a batch onto the hot grill pan; grill for a couple of minutes, then turn slightly the created a cross-hatch, and grill another couple of minutes just until golden-brown and slightly softened; repeat with remaining peaches.

-Once all are grilled, finish by adding a creamy dollop of the vanilla mascarpone into the center of each grilled peach, then sprinkle over a little of the chopped hazelnuts; finish with an additional drizzle of the agave, if desired, and mint; serve.