Food Memoir 13: Why I love Strawberries

Writer’s block hit me hard this morning. I had to finish an article, but my head was blocked. The words didn't flow. My eyes hurt badly from the blue rays coming off my laptop, and I was hungry as I had skipped breakfast. Initially, I thought I would opt for eggs but I decided I needed to leave the house. I sighed, shut my laptop down, put on a pair of jeans that looked good with my night shirt, and left the house to buy some fruits.

Local vendors had already brought out their fresh produce in the market, two blocks away from my home. I was lucky that I was one of the early customers because fruits were always in high demand here. And justly so. Sunlight glinted off the orchard yield, and the air smelt of the sweet, earthy scent of spring. Among all the multiple colors and textures, one thing immediately caught my eye: strawberries.

There they were…looking like plump, glistening rubies. I knew I wanted them, and I would not settle for any other fruit that morning. They would be so good with cold milk!

The strawberries that helped me find my voice as a writer

I picked up around 30 of the juiciest and fattest strawberries, and as the sun felt warm on my face, I suddenly felt so happy. Despite my struggles this morning, I reminded myself that moments like these were the reason why I had started writing in the first place.

To Observe.

To Slow down.

To embrace delight in my life as a writer.

So all you budding writers, take a moment. Let the little joys, like strawberries and sunshine, remind you that you are not behind. You are still noticing things, saving them in your memory, and they will come back to you at the right moment.

The combination of fruit, fresh air, and sunlight sparked a flow of creativity in me. I rushed back home, and sat down to write. I poured myself some milk as an accompaniment with the strawberries.

Within an hour, I had a rough draft of my article. It’s surprising how small changes in environment and habits can help break mental blocks.

So what should you do when you feel stuck?

• Take a short walk outside.

• Eat something fresh and energizing.

• Let your mind wander before forcing ideas.

I found these little actions surprisingly useful to get back to writing. I hope these help you too. See you next time in a new blog on Life as a Food Writer.