There was a time when, as a single mother raising a young daughter, I struggled with how to become financially independent and how to spend more creative, quality time with my child.
Whenever I felt anxious that if I spent too much time enjoying with my child, I might run into financial troubles, I’d clean with that. On the other hand, when I noticed my eagerness to secure a steady livelihood for us, I’d again turn to cleaning. This was how I spent each day.
In the midst of this, no matter how busy I was, I always found time to cook and create something with my daughter daily. Even if it was just a brief moment of the day, it became a cherished bonding ritual between us.
Looking back, I’ve always had a passion for matters related to food. Even as a child, I found joy in simply assisting with culinary tasks. Since encountering Ho’oponopono, I’ve come to recognize the identity present in each ingredient and utensil. By communicating through cleaning while cooking, preparing meals became a healing experience for me.
When I cook while cleaning, it’s as if the ingredients dance before me. I learned that if I simply refrain from disturbing their dance, those who eat the food rejoice in its taste. I’m not a professional and have never undergone formal culinary training. Yet, even with financial constraints and the responsibilities of raising my child which limited my outings, people sought me out to enjoy my cooking. From this, many started requesting cooking classes where I’d teach them to cook without recipes. Once they grasped the essence of each ingredient, they found joy in these lessons. This eventually led me to a role as a catering chef. I mostly prepared everything at home and delivered it to events, needing only to arrange the dishes on-site, allowing me to stay close to my daughter.
While this chapter of my life was temporary, it was not just a fond memory. The flow of those times fulfilled us — from financial hardships to our parent-child relationship, to spiritual richness, creativity, and self-actualization. Those days are treasures to me.
Many people lament that even if they have dreams or ideas, they aren’t reflected in reality. In such times, it’s essential to be honest about what they truly see before them. Beyond simply loving to cook, you might realize that you’re harboring expectations of receiving praise or becoming a millionaire. There could be various underlying perceptions and intentions. These are memories that could obstruct your true sacred work and talent, but they can be cleaned. Once the obstructions are cleaned, you might notice that fresh, beautiful life-water springs forth through you and your life, like a fountain in that very moment.
Peace,
Momilani Ramstrum
