Yesterday I watched “Soul” to remind myself that maybe the purpose of life isn’t always finding some big purpose. It’s simply being present enough to enjoy being alive.
Back in college, a friend asked me to taste the soup he’d been making for six hours. It tasted like hot water with a memory of chicken, but he looked so proud that I said, “It’s subtle.” He thanked me and served it to nine people. Everyone took one sip, then started adding salt, pepper, hot sauce, anything nearby. Somebody added chips. He kept saying, “The flavor develops.” Years later, he admitted he’d forgotten to add the seasoning packet. He also said my use of the word subtle convinced him the soup was sophisticated. I’ve been carrying partial responsibility for that dinner ever since.