Spice of Life

My entire youth was spent adamantly believing that spicy food was the enemy. As a kid, even the mildest hint of heat on my tongue would send me running for a gallon of milk. 

Now in my forties, I love spice, heat and all forms of intense flavors. For a couple of years, I put hot sauce or red pepper flakes on virtually everything I ate. I couldn't get enough of the undulating waves of sensation that flowed from my mouth, up into my nose, and out through my extremities. That burn. The beads of sweat that followed. Then a whole-body tingling that is quite exhilarating and addicting!

Heat-induced pleasure, the kind that registers on the Scoville scale, has been a profound teacher. Just like gradually increasing my tolerance for spicy food, I found that pushing my boundaries in life could be uncomfortable, even painful. But it was in this discomfort that I truly expanded my capabilities and perceptions.

For years, I avoided anything that might overwhelm my senses or push me out of my comfort zone. I thought I was protecting myself. In reality, I was limiting my experiences, my growth, and ultimately, my freedom.

As I slowly increased my spice tolerance, I noticed a parallel in other areas of my life. Situations that once seemed overwhelming became manageable. Challenges that once paralyzed me became opportunities for growth.

This journey taught me that what we often perceive as too intense might actually be life offering us its richest flavors. And while it can be overwhelming at first, it can also be incredibly rewarding.

When I feel the first tiny flame flicker on the back of my palette, that familiar sensation implicitly linked with being pushed to my limits, I remind myself: this is where growth happens. This is where life gets interesting!

And it leaves me wondering: what flavors of life might we be missing out on by always playing it safe with our choices?

Boldly embracing the heat (it is the tail end of summer in Phoenix, after all)…

*Italicized quotations are from Papercuts: The Art of Self Delusion