Fall Wanderlust (Or: How to Be in the Moment)

Fall Wanderlust (Or: How to Be in the Moment)

Sometimes I feel like a terrible blogger. There have been so many recipes I’ve wanted to share, dinner parties I’ve wanted to document, and recent trips I’ve wanted to take you all on (including France, Traverse City, and Nantucket). But frankly, sometimes I’d rather just savor the moment. To cook a meal, enjoy the food and the company, and leave it at that. Or to go on a trip, and – rather than spend hours indoors blogging – to actually BE where I am. To explore, to experience, to be present. Which, in these social media-bombarded days, is actually pretty hard.

On a recent trip to Paris, I wandered the winding streets of the 9th and 10th arrondissements, poking my nose into hidden gardens, minuscule flower shops, and funky-looking cafes, walked along the Canal St. Martin and lost myself in the wonder of it all. I confess I did some Instagramming and some tweeting, but I was shocked at the compulsion I felt to post things. Almost like my experience was only validated if it was shared, acknowledged, and affirmed. I can so easily measure the value of an experience – or even, dangerously, the value of my very self – in likes and retweets and comments if I’m not careful.

The past few trips I’ve been more conscious of this tug of war going on inside of me – the pull between being and doing. A few weeks ago Brandon and I rented a little farmhouse up near Traverse City to celebrate our anniversary. It was absolutely dreamy – it was in the middle of nowhere, with a big garden out back with a chicken coop, a hammock hanging between the trees, a big patio with picnic table and lights strung up, and the best, most light-filled kitchen I’ve ever cooked in. One afternoon I went outside to lay in the hammock and read a book (and possibly take a nap). The shy was a brilliant blue, the leaves were beginning to color, and the breeze blew through the trees, gently rocking the hammock. Though the moment was perfect, I felt restless. I checked my iPhone. I took a few pictures and posted them on Instagram. I tweeted. It wasn’t until I left my phone inside that I could actually just be in the moment and relax.

Where does this pressure come from? To be constantly productive – and, via all our many social media apps – to prove our productiveness. It’s amazing the guilt I feel when I’m not posting regularly on the blog. Do we cease to exist when we we stop posting our every move? I don’t mean to sound anti-technology. Goodness knows, I depend on it every day, and I’m so grateful for my blog, and the fact that the Internet allows me to connect with so many readers! I’m just saying, sometimes it’s OK to have a glass of wine without taking a picture of it. (I’m speaking to myself, people!). This isn’t a rant, just some observations and I’d LOVE to hear your thoughts on the subject. Does anyone else struggle with this need to share, to feel validated, and to constantly produce? The need to be constantly moving? Please share!

P.S. This post was intended to be all about fall travel, and it somehow took a direction of it’s own! So funny when that happens. One thing I did want to share is that another reason I haven’t been blogging as much lately is because I’ve been busy writing! I recently wrote about Traverse City for New York magazine, about Nova Scotia Wine Country for HuffPo, and America’s Best Bread Bakeries for Food & Wine. I’m also working on a couple of really exciting pieces for Anthology magazine, one for Garden Design, and some cool Chef Insider Travel Guides for Food & Wine. Stay tuned! And, perhaps most exciting of all – I’ve been working in the test kitchens of Bon Appetit, testing all sorts of recipes. Grateful for work that I love!

(All photos were taken in Burgundy, France in October 2010 – I just love the rainbow picture and the gold-colored leaves on the vines! Fall is my favorite time to travel.)

  • Jenny Watkins

    this spoke to me … loved this one!!!

    • Anna

      Thanks friend!! Glad you liked it :) xo

  • Jos

    I so know what you are talking about Anna. Fab friends of ours travelled recently in Europe – and blogged the entire time away. I was gob-smacked as dusk is all about settling in, a divine glass of wine on hand and savouring the moment. Ahhhh – blogging, noooooooo! Life isn’t about ‘bloggable’ moments – it’s about living, breathing, experiencing, being real and blogging when you feel like it.

    • Anna Watson Carl

      I totally agree!! Well put! Glad this struck a chord with you :)

  • N

    I’ve been following your blog (I just love the idea behind the yellow table!) for some time and I just love the elegant aura that surrounds it. I’m not much of a blogger type but if I were to have one it would follow a genuine, stylish but low key vibe like yours. How’s that for validation? :) Anyways, as I’m sure you’re always open to ideas about the next project/article, I thought maybe you could have a look at attending the “Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives” conference in Napa Valley which marries Harvard U with the CIA. I just registered. I’ve noticed your recipes try to follow a healthier, lighter approach and thought this would be right up your alley in furthering your perspective in healthy eating. It’s open to all professions! Just food for thought and maybe I’ll see you there :)

    http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/11/dining/doctors-learn-to-cook-healthy-crave-able-foods.html?pagewanted=all

    • annawatsoncarl

      Hi! Thanks so much for your kind words!! I really appreciate it so much. That conference sounds fantastic – I hadn’t heard about it, but I am going to look into it. I’ll certainly let you know if I decide to attend!

  • Tawney

    This post resonated with me greatly! I started blogging in order to hold myself accountable for my life and creativity. I wanted to make myself realize how blessed my life was, and keep moving forward being creative, happy, inventive, and loving. But it is a slippery slope to merely do things so you can document them on your blog. It’s all too easy to get caught up-chicken or egg? I think the best thing I do is leave my laptop at home when I travel. The first couple days, I am always itching to post photos, or tweet, but after that, I can soak the experience up. It makes for much richer memories. Thanks for writing about what needs to be discussed! Food for thought for me and further inspiration to keep living for life!

banner made with love by Hitch Design Studio
7

comments
popular posts

Sorry. No data so far.

recipe index
my fav reads

Sorry. No data so far.


My name is Anna Watson Carl. Over the years, I've worked as a personal chef, taught cooking classes, written for magazines, tested recipes, and traveled whenever opportunity has arisen. But at heart, there's nothing I love more than sharing a meal around the yellow table...more


© 2011–2012 THE YELLOW TABLE