Yan Rou (China)

So lately I have been neglecting my inner introvert. I know this because I have been trying to make this recipe, Yan Rou, a very simple stir-fry with marinade, for about ten days now. First, I kept forgetting to take the meat out of the freezer. Then I couldn't find time to actually marinate it, and the meal only made it to the table tonight because leaving the pork in the refrigerator for another day would have been pretty risky behavior.

There are some other significant signs that said inner introvert is in crisis in the face of triple-booked evenings, writing deadlines, and grading overload. Here are a few:

1. This week we ate three meals wrapped in a flour tortilla.

2.  I only ran 2 miles this week instead of my usual 10.

3. Today I fell asleep on the couch, in the middle of the afternoon, with the TV blaring, one child playing a noisy computer game, the other pounding blocks on every solid surface he could find, and my husband periodically shushing/yelling at them in turn, all within ten feet of me.

4. In the last month I've read one book, when my average is usually one a week.

5.  I asked my husband to make the cupcake treats for day care tomorrow, (though I did lay out the cake mix, frosting, cupcake tins, and decorative sprinkles for him. Oh, and preheated the oven).

6. The thought of attending social engagements on the calendar three weeks from now brings tears to my eyes.

7. Each night I spend a moment trying to rationalize that yoga pants can indeed be acceptable work attire.

8. I haven't been to the grocery store in ten days.

9. Driving more than a mile, for any reason, is exhausting.

10. Today I found a container with three bites of coleslaw in it at the back of the refrigerator. I cannot remember when we last ate coleslaw, and I didn't take the container out of the fridge.

So as I look over this list, I think, good god, I need a day off at the very least, maybe a prescription of some sort, though I'd settle for a vacation...on a beach...with my Kindle...a steady stream of cocktails delivered to me...without my children...husband optional;)

But I can admit all this in good spirits because underneath the Yan Rou recipe in Extending the Table was this six line dinner prayer from Thailand, which we recited as a family before we ate our stir-fry. It was a prayer of thanks for food, the beauty of nature, safety, and happiness.

My life is overflowing with good family, good friends, good food, good health, good home, good kids, good partner, good employment, good creative outlets, good humor, good opportunities, good community, and good perspective. That is a lot of good. Do I need to take time for myself more often? Absolutely! Because I have a lot of good things in my life that I need to enjoy.