I rarely share personal stuff, but this is one of those occasions.
Yesterday, my girlfriend and I went to the grocery store. We usually make a list and only purchase the things on it. It’s both a way to save money and an effective sanitary method to prevent being tempted to buy things you don’t necessarily need.
However, yesterday we let ourselves be tempted.
We bought a small watermelon and four pieces of Pastel de Nata.
I love watermelon, and for the moment, let’s forget about all the chemicals that should not be there naturally.
Archaeological evidence suggests that watermelon was first domesticated in the Nile Valley more than 5,000 years ago. Ancient Egyptians even depicted watermelons in their hieroglyphics and buried them in tombs as a source of sustenance for the afterlife.
From Africa, watermelon spread to Mediterranean countries and Asia, eventually reaching the Americas with European explorers and colonists. It is widely cultivated worldwide, with more than 1,000 varieties.
Botanically, watermelon belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, which also includes cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash. It is technically a berry, specifically, a “pepo,” which is a fruit with a thick rind and fleshy centre.
Watermelon is approximately 92% water, making it an incredibly hydrating food. It is low in calories and rich in essential nutrients, including vitamins A, B6, and C, as well as antioxidants such as lycopene and beta-carotene, and the amino acid citrulline, which may support heart health and reduce muscle soreness. Its natural sweetness and hydrating properties make it an ideal fruit for hot climates and athletic recovery.
And I love Pastel de Nata.
Pastéis de nata tarts are pastries inspired by an original recipe called Pastéis de Belém, which were created before the eighteenth century by Catholic monks at the Jerónimos Monastery in the civil parish of Saint Mary of Bethlehem, in Lisbon.
Back in 2016, my girlfriend’s son, Alex, took us on a vacation to visit Portugal, and we tasted the original pastry sold in Belem by the Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém since 1837. Since the opening of Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém, the original recipe that inspired pastel de nata varieties has been kept in a secret room. Thus, it is the only place in the world that still produces the original pastry.
Cannot compare the ones sold in the grocery store with the ones from Belem. Yet, a little cinnamon sprinkled on the tarts can do some Magick and save appearances.
I asked my girlfriend, ‘Is it my birthday today?’
She said, ‘Yes, absolutely. Why not?’
Just for the record, I’m a Virgo, and we’re currently in Cancer (Three of Cups to be precise).
However, she’s right. Quoting an old song, ‘Every Day is Halloween’.
On the other hand, I have never felt so inadequate and useless as I do in recent times. My world is getting smaller and emptier every day.
There are very few things I can afford to indulge myself recently. So I learned that there are no such things as small pleasures. It’s a reminder to appreciate what you have without worrying too much about what you don’t. Sometimes works, sometimes it doesn’t.
Innocent pleasures, guilty pleasures, small pleasures, what makes the difference? Eventually, you can do a wrong thing for the right reasons. Sometimes the end justifies the means – anything that makes you feel better.
At least three things you should try to do every day: something that matters, enjoy the thing you do, and, if it is possible, make somebody else smile.
So, turn every day into your birthday, and when it’s possible, somebody else’s too.
#attilakarpathy #life #esoteric
