I had a much needed family filled weekend recently and it was extremely therapeutic. When your so caught up in your everyday life, its nice to take a break from the screens and get back to the basics- and what makes you truly happy.

This particular week my aunt made my favorite fall time meal POSOLE. If you ever see it on the menu at a restaurant, try it. It may not be as delicious as a homemade batch, but its one of those dishes that never disappoints.

Getting back to the basics in all aspects of life helps me to get in touch with my goals, aspirations, and the mindset I need to progress. Even in planning, I try to take a step back and look at the function of the systems I am using. It’s so easy to get caught up in the latest trends and social media postings that I lose sight of what works for me and what doesn’t. If it doesn’t work, there’s no reason to spend energy on it.

Later we sat around the kitchen table reliving stories from the good ole days and reflecting on the simpler times, and making empanadas.

Watching all the work my aunt put into making the dough, the filling, rolling them out, filling them, sealing them, and baking them for everyone else to enjoy made me think about my own life.

So many metaphors ran through my mind. Putting in work towards your education, career, personal brand,  health, and overall future is all going to produce the sweetest reward from the hard labor. Nothing great is ever easy.

Spending time with family or friends ALWAYS helps me to refocus my energy and get back to the head space I need to be in.

Moral of the story is, never be too consumed with life to appreciate the things around you. Always make time for those closest to you, and allow them to inspire you.