Life can be challenging, and sometimes it helps to say that plainly. We all face difficulties, but we do not always experience them in the same way. What may feel manageable to one person can feel overwhelming to another. A challenge that seems minor from the outside may carry real weight for someone else.
This may be the reason I did not share what I had hoped to accomplish at times. If no one knows, then how can I fail? But, if nobody knows, how can they help?
When I selected this running theme of “TOPS Spices of Life,” my goals were to find another way to convey TOPS messaging that helped me on my journey to longevity, to have some fun and provide information on spices we can use in our meal planning.
Goals can be a bit tricky. They have been a great motivator for the most part. For the purposes of this series, I do not write many blogs ahead of THYME, but as I write this one, I know there is an expectation to tease the next.
Some of the spices on my list seem really easy to apply. However, BORAGE has been difficult and since it was previously announced, I have to produce something SAGE.
Then I had a PAPRIKA moment. Saying what I actually want to accomplish is the first step in achievement. If I had not stated which spice I planned on refracting on next, it would have allowed me to pick something easier.
You might say it takes a lot of BORAGE to put yourself out there knowing you may fail. However, we can learn so much from our failures. Failures teach us what does not work and every lesson brings us one step closer to what does.
So, I will be brave and have the BORAGE to announce that next time I will refract on OREGANO. Hopefully, something will come to mind and put a little kick in my refracting.
Borage (Borago officinalis): An herb traditionally used as both a culinary plant and an herbal remedy. It has attractive star-shaped blue flowers making it a valuable addition to a pollinator garden. With its mild cucumber-like flavor, it is a great addition to salads, soups, sauces and drinks. It has herbal uses; however, the wild plant contains compounds that can damage the liver. Raw products should be avoided. Commercial borage products have been processed to remove these pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
Borage seed oil is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6-fatty acid. The oil has been studied for inflammatory and skin-related conditions.
Borage is a beautiful, bee-friendly herb with edible flowers and cucumber-flavored leaves, but it requires some caution because of the naturally occurring compounds that can be harmful to the liver.
Thank-you Rick for you delightful play on words and help us see many more uses of those spices and herbs that we can use everyday. As far as “borage” I appreciate your awareness and research on it especially the fact that it can do some damage to your liver. I really like your articles on spices. Keep us the good work!
Thanks Rick, for having the borage to push through this post. I will say you had me chuckling that that is a very good thing. Borage may not be #1 on my list of new things to try but you did intrigue me enough to go looking for more information…
Looking forward to Oregano!
Thanks, Rick, for another interesting Refracted Friday Blog, Your message re challenges and how the same challenge can present different levels of difficulty for different people is one we can easily forget or overlook. It made me think of learning to drive a car. Many pass their test for a license in the first try. It took me 4 attempts. ( So glad I persevered. ) As well, with weight loss, for sure, a challenge. Some can lose 2 pounds a week easily with minimal effort or change, others struggle and are strict with following healthy eating habits and exercising, yet, may lose just 1pound,Borage is a spice I had never heard of. Eager to try it for the cucumber flavored leaves. Glad to be warned of its effect on the liver. Liked the pun ( borage/courage). The age old adage that we learn from out failures is always worth repeating as it is so easy to be discouraged when our first attempts are not successful. Many of our most useful everyday inventions would have never come to be if people had not persisted. My mind is already wondering, ” O where can you go with OREGANO ?” I know you will come up with some form of , ” urray for OREGANO ! ” ( No sound for the “H” is the NL pronounciation of “Hurray”.