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    Home / From the Heart / From the Heart: The Beautifully Grueling Work

    From the Heart: The Beautifully Grueling Work

    July 1, 2018 by Ingrid Beer 4 Comments

    “You're always learning. The problem is, sometimes you stop and think you understand the world. This is not correct. The world is always moving. You never reach the point you can stop making an effort.” ~Paulo Coelho

    From the Heart: The Beautifully Grueling Work

    As I see it, there is no way to avoid the work. And the work can often be excruciatingly painful.

    There is work in creating, work in caring, work in daring, work in the attempt to be better today than I was yesterday.

    There is work in loving, work in partnering, work in raising, and work even in the process of eking out at least some amount of joy and pleasure, something to point to as some little reward.

    All of life is work, wonderfully and beautifully grueling work, and it begins the moment we are born, and continues on until our final breath.

    It is the beautifully grueling work—this attempt at living—that brings on both the laughter and the tears, the joy and the sorrow, the longing to unify and the desire to be an island.

    There is work in hatching plans, and in straining and stressing to execute them.

    And once those plans are manifested, then the work begins again because of a compulsion to go over what has been birthed with a fine tooth comb, refining it, correcting it, clarifying it, and making it as presentable to the word at large as possible.

    And even then the process is never fully closed, as things are so often revisited over and over again, scrutinized repeatedly, and either critiqued and continued to be picked apart, or deemed “worthy enough” and allowed to rest...

    For the time being, anyway...

    But ultimately, all of this is for something, though it is difficult to make this out in the midst of the process of the beautifully grueling work being done.

    The work is meant to create patience, to create persistence and perseverance.

    It is meant to frustrate into action, into change, into some kind of movement to keep one from sinking in the quick sand.

    And without it, life simply would not taste as good, would not contain as much urgency, nor teach us that we are capable of better, deeper, more...

    I would not be honest if I did not say that I found myself cursing the beautifully grueling work under my breath from time to time, wishing it away, wishing it to leave me at peace.

    But this work that we are given to do—this living, this breathing, this creating, this giving, this sharing, this caring—it has already been meticulously woven into the very fabric of our existence, and simply cannot be wished away.

    It is as much a part of our experience as feeling our heart beat within our chests, as much as the feeling of hunger in our bellies, as much as feeling burning desire within our souls.

    It is the beautifully grueling work—this attempt at living—that brings on both the laughter and the tears, the joy and the sorrow, the longing to unify and the desire to be an island.

    It is at once exquisitely painful yet gloriously delicious, and something that this human experience simply could not do without.

    Taste what's good and pass it on.

    Ingrid

    “From The Heart” is a space for me to share some of my more personal thoughts on life. Here you'll find my reflections on my own inner/spiritual journey; on being a wife and mother; on being a creative; and general observations, pretty much whatever is on my mind.

    I whole-heartedly believe that sharing "from the heart" with one another is what connects us, heals us, and inspires us! Glad you're here...

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    About Ingrid Beer

    Ingrid obtained her Culinary Arts degree in 2005 after graduating with honors from the California School of Culinary Arts (Le Cordon Bleu program) in Pasadena, CA.

    She has had the pleasure and privilege of being the Executive Chef for two substance abuse facilities in Malibu, Ca., as well as a personal chef for private clients.

    More about Ingrid →

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Roseanne Sabol

      July 02, 2018 at 6:41 pm

      Thanks for these words, Ingrid. At times the work is excruciating and at other times, exquisite. But aren’t we blessed to be able do our work?
      xo

      Reply
      • The Cozy Apron

        July 02, 2018 at 8:03 pm

        We absolutely are blessed to have the opportunity to do our work, both excruciating and exquisite, my friend! Hope all is well! xoxo

        Reply
    2. Michelle

      July 03, 2018 at 4:36 am

      Beautifully grueling... yes. Exquisitely exhausting...yes! Supremely 'worth it'.
      Lovely post, as always. Completely enjoy these musings. I always make the time to allow myself to sit with them for a few minutes. Thanks for providing a meaningful moment to exhale.❤️

      Reply
      • The Cozy Apron

        July 03, 2018 at 7:49 am

        Michelle, your words have deeply touched me, and I thank you for sharing how you regard my "musings".

        What a beautiful thing that you put aside some time for these to sit with them. I am so very glad you found some resonance in these particular words, and that you can relate, and taste the sweetness.

        My hope is that you continue to find these "meaningful moments to exhale" in these more personal posts, and be nourished by them in. Thank you for your readership!

        Reply

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    Welcome to The Cozy Apron — so glad to have you as a guest at my table! Here's where I share my passion for food, people and life through my culinary creations and my writing; and where my husband shares his love for food photography and all things visual.

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