"Happy Place" Part II

  
 Right when I submitted the first part of this post I thought of a few more things to add so I had to make a sequel. I friggin' love sequels! Terminator 2? Aliens? Ghostbusters II? Look Who's Talking 2? Caddy Shack II? I mean c'mon! (that last one was a joke, don't see Caddy Shack II...)
    A couple of days during this stress filled block I noticed my performance in the kitchen was starting to dip below the high standards I set for myself so I found little ways here and there to motivate myself to pick it back up. I watched the sunset a few times as I described in part I, and something I started doing recently was add a quote at the bottom of my timeline in the kitchen. Each day everyone has to fill out a game plan or "timeline" for class that outlines everything you have to do for that day. These timelines include a full ingredient list, equipment list, recipes, methods, diagrams of plating and service setup, etc. Chef's at the CIA are keen on these timelines because they are the foundation for being prepared each and every day in the kitchen. If you are unsure on a recipe, or are doing poorly the Chef will most likely ask to see your timeline. Think you can take a short cut and not write out the full recipe? Guess what? Your kicked out of class until you can complete it in its entirety ( I have not been kicked out of class or had an incomplete timeline for those of you at home). We used to have then folded and kept in our front pockets of our chef coats but Chef Keif decided to create a new timeline which we tape to the wall in front of our stations. This makes it easier for us to see what we have to do, and easier for Chef to walk by to see who is prepared and who is running back to their room...
    One day I decided to write "Kill it" in big red sharpie letters at the bottom of my timeline as a little extra encouragement to get things done and have a good day. Chef saw it and thought it was funny so I took it a step further. I have a famous quotes app on my phone and wanted to include some of my favorite random quotes on my timeline to give me a boost in class. I don't do it to get attention from my chef, I do it just so that I can see it and know I have to pick it up if I am slumping. Here are my timeline quotes I've used thus far:

• "No man ever achieved worthwhile success who did not, at one time or other, find himself with at least one foot hanging well over the brink of failure." ~ Napoleon Hill

• "The errors of great men are vulnerable because they are more fruitful than the truths of little men." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche  

• "In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins. Not through strength, but through persistence."  

This is the one I have for tomorrow:

"I'm not out there sweating for three hours every day just to find out what it feels like to sweat..." ~ Michael Jordan

    I try to pick a quote that symbolizes how I am feeling at that particular time. Sometimes I have a bad day so I'll use a quote about failure or overcoming obstacles. If I had a good day the next day I'll have a quote about persistence, drive, success, etc. To most its corny, but for me, its just a little added boost at six O'clock in the morning...