Take Back Clarity, Control and Calm. Bake a Pie Every Season.
Take Back Clarity, Control and Calm. Bake a Pie Every Season.
DEAR DAMES
“I’m exhausted from juggling work, family, home, and every screaming responsibility that thinks it’s more important than sleep. I’m spinning on a hamster wheel—fast, frantic, and getting nowhere. Calm? That’s reserved for laundry detergent commercials starring women in lavender fields. I want space to breathe and time to focus on what really matters. How do I find my way back to that?”
Sincerely, Frazzled in Fresno
DEAR FRAZZLED
We hear you. Life isn’t a graceful ballet—it’s Army Boot Camp with a side of slapstick. That’s why it’s time to stop spinning and start baking. Yes, really.
Every season of life deserves its own pie—figurative, sure (but literal works too)—and a new recipe to match. Forget year-long plans that fizzle out by February. Instead, recalibrate your priorities every quarter, like clockwork. It’s practical. It’s powerful. It is peace served warm.
Here’s your recipe for getting back to the life you envision:
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Ingredients
LIFE RECIPE:
- 60 minutes, once each season
- A quiet space (bonus points for tea and candlelight)
- 1 blank piece of paper + your favorite-colored markers
- 2 cups of thoughtful reflection
- 30 minutes for monthly check-ins
- 3 tbsp of daily encouragement
- 1 heaping tbsp of flexibility
Instructions
STEP 1: REFLECT MINDFULLY
Brew a comforting cup and give yourself the gift of stillness. Picture your life as a pie—full of juicy layers, some crusty edges, and a filling that changes with the season.
Before slicing into specifics, take in the whole pie: Health & Well-Being, Family & Friends, Work & Contribution, and The Business of Me. Which areas feel full and flavorful? Which seem only half-baked? Think about what’s been taking up the biggest slice lately.
Clarity begins when you see the whole picture, not just the crumbs.
STEP 2: DRAW 4 SLICES
Pull out a blank sheet of paper. Divide it– and your attention– into the same four meaningful slices shown in the illustration.
Next to each header, jot down one to three goals, intentions, or key events that belong in that slice of the pie. Start with whatever has been tugging at your heart but keep it to the season you are in.
STEP 3: BE SPECIFIC
Now that you have a general idea, you’re ready to set goals that are measurable and meaningful. Behavioral scientists have been saying it for decades: creating a specific goal—such as “walking 20 minutes every morning Monday thru Friday” is far more likely to stick than a vague intention of “being more active.” The clearer your map, the better your chances of reaching the destination.
STEP 1: REFLECT MINDFULLY
Brew a comforting cup and give yourself the gift of stillness. Picture your life as a pie—full of juicy layers, some crusty edges, and a filling that changes with the season.
Before slicing into specifics, take in the whole pie: Health & Well-Being, Family & Friends, Work & Contribution, and The Business of Me. Which areas feel full and flavorful? Which seem only half-baked? Think about what’s been taking up the biggest slice lately.
Clarity begins when you see the whole picture, not just the crumbs.
STEP 2: DRAW 4 SLICES
Pull out a blank sheet of paper. Divide it– and your attention– into the same four meaningful slices shown in the illustration.
Next to each header, jot down one to three goals, intentions, or key events that belong in that slice of the pie. Start with whatever has been tugging at your heart but keep it to the season you are in.
STEP 3: BE SPECIFIC
Now that you have a general idea, you’re ready to set goals that are measurable and meaningful. Behavioral scientists have been saying it for decades: creating a specific goal—such as “walking 20 minutes every morning Monday thru Friday” is far more likely to stick than a vague intention of “being more active.” The clearer your map, the better your chances of reaching the destination.
WANT THE FULL RECIPE?
Get the full volume which includes the rest of the steps, advanced baking tips, tea & trivia, recipes for the table and more.
TEA WITH THE DAMES
Volume 1: Boldly Brewed with Confidence
…is NOW AVAILABLE!
Hungry now?
It’s time to bake a pie…
A REAL ONE!
Lucy’s Caprese Panini
This warm Caprese panini is one of those easy meals that somehow feels like more than a sandwich. Serve it for lunch, a light supper, or alongside a bowl of soup in the winter or a salad in the summer.