My family growing up had a tradition on Christmas Eve of making my mom’s Curry Soup – which is really just a concoction of two specific canned soups juzzzzed up a bit with curry powder. I still incorporate the soup into my own Christmas Eve ritual.
What makes the soup so magical is the Half and Half. Half and Half is sold in the dairy case of your grocery store as a homogenized mixture of half cream and half milk. A little creamier than milk, a little less creamy than cream. Perfect.
In my faith tradition, we have been studying the New Testament this year. And right now we are smack dab in the middle of the book of Revelation. (Stick with me.) For me, someone who identifies as an Enneagram 6 and leads heavily with fear, the book of Revelation, in the past, has not been awesome.
Too scary. Too graphic. Too confusing. Too much.
This time, I went into my study determined to see some good.
One of my favorite discoveries in studying this week was a reference to something I learned years ago from Brooke Castillo that comes up all the time in my coaching calls with clients.
It’s the principle of 50/50 – or, you guessed it – half and half. Over the last few years, the application of that principle has quite literally changed almost every aspect of my life.
In Revelation it comes after the author has been given an assignment. He is given directions and then the angel says this, “it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.”
Now – to clarify –
a) I am not a Bible scholar.
And b) I don’t want to be.
So c) I am interpreting this the way that is useful for me:
Everything is half awesome (sweet) and half hard (bitter). 50/50. Period.
Going to high school right now? Half super awesome. And Half so devastatingly hard!
Serving a mission for your church or volunteering in your community? Half the “very best years Ever!” and Half “I would never go through that again. Like Ever.”
Being single? Half “Fr..fre..freedom!!” And Half “It is SO hard to do everything alone. I just want my person.”
Being married? Half “Wow it is SO nice to have my person!” And Half “Wow do I miss my freedom!”
Having kids.
Getting a new job.
Buying a new house.
Moving to a new city.
Going back to school.
Retiring.
Even Christmas.
50/50.
You get the picture.
Everything has some awesome and everything has some hard.
Why is this thinking helpful? I’ll answer for myself.
It helps me go into any situation knowing two things. 1) The grass I think is greener won’t solve my problems. 2) Finding and appreciating the grass that’s beautifully green wherever I am, might.
There is an old Arabic saying, “El donya badal, yom asal we yom basal.”
Translation? “Life alternates. One day of honey. One day of onion.”
Half and half.
I’m here for both of them.
I’m also here for the Curry Soup.
I can’t wait to hear about how you’re finding your own half and half. And I’m ready to help if you need it!
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