The Love Hidden in a Home-Cooked Meal 🌹

Come come sit with me, grab a drink and pull up a chair. The last couple of weeks I have been thinking about my mom. Okay, okay... my mom and food. 😄 In my opinion, my mom was a great cook. Child, let me tell you, whenever I went to visit her, I already knew what was coming. The first night would be donairs. The second night? My favourite. Ribs, rice, and tea biscuits. Now let me tell you something... I love tea biscuits. LOVE them. To this day, they are one of the things I have never been able to make quite like my mom did. She would make this sauce to go over the ribs and rice, and it was so good. If I visited in the summer, there would usually be blueberry pie. If I came in the winter, it was apple pie. The funny thing is, when I think about the people in my life, so many of them have a food attached to them. My bestie's husband loves to cook, and let me tell you, that man can make French toast. Mmm mmm. 😄 You know the kind where you tell yourself you...
Post a Comment

The Standard We Hold Ourselves To

Come, come sit with me. Grab a drink and get comfortable.

This thought has been buzzing in my head.

We ALL have internal standards we hold ourselves to.

Some of them are beautiful.

Some of them quietly exhaust us.

And lately I’ve been asking myself a hard question:

Are my standards rooted in strength…
or are they rooted in perfection?

Because here’s what I believe my standard is built on:

  • Integrity.
  • Effort.
  • Growth.
  • Faithfulness.
  • Self-respect.

Those are good things.
Those are solid things.
Those are the kind of values that build a life.

But if I’m honest… sometimes the line gets blurry.

Because there’s another list that can sneak in without us noticing:

  • Immediate results.
  • External applause.
  • Control over timing.

And that’s where it shifts.

Integrity says: Do the right thing, even if no one sees it.
Perfectionism says: It better pay off quickly.

Effort says: Keep showing up.
Perfectionism says: If it doesn’t work fast, something is wrong.

Growth says: This will take time.
Perfectionism says: Time means you’re behind.

Faithfulness says: Stay steady.
Perfectionism says: Push harder.

Self-respect says: You are worthy even while you’re building.
Perfectionism says: You’ll be worthy when it works.

That’s the difference.

One builds you.
The other quietly drains you.

And I don’t think this is just me.

As kids and young adults, we’re told we need standards.
We’re told they matter.
We’re told they define us.

Have standards.
Have discipline.
Don’t settle.
Work hard.
Be strong.

And those things aren’t wrong.

But somewhere along the way…
what if it got twisted?

We live in a world that already has so much pressure.

Pressure to perform.
Pressure to succeed.
Pressure to look a certain way.
Pressure to move at a certain speed.

And then we go and add more.

We add pressure to be perfect.

But why?

Why do we do that?

And who are we doing it for?

I will always live by my standards.

They’re hard-coded into me.

Integrity.
Effort.
Growth.
Faithfulness.
Self-respect.

That’s who I am.

But I also know this —

I don’t need to be perfect.

Because child… I am far from perfect. 😉

Life is hard. We all know that.

So why would we make it harder by trying to be someone we’re not?

Trying to be flawless.
Trying to have it all figured out.
Trying to look strong every second of the day.

That’s not strength.

That’s performance.

And I’m not interested in performing.

I’m interested in living.

Living by my standards —
without twisting them into something that suffocates me.

So my question to you is this:

Will you keep the mask on…
Or will you remove it?

Stay close 🌹

If you want more reflections like this (and a little romance + laughter too), subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next.

Want to say hi? Email me anytime: loveandlifewithlisa@gmail.com

Listen to the podcast 🎧

If you like my voice in writing, you might love it in audio too.

➡️ Listen on Spotify

Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Love & Life with Lisa.

With love,
Lisa L 🌹

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

🌹 Why Whispers with Lisa Exists

 We all have a book that we hide. The one we slip into our bag but never read in public. The one we devour late at night under the covers, praying no one asks what kept us up until 2 a.m. The one we love, but never admit out loud because someone might judge us. For some, it’s a steamy romance. For others, it’s a fantasy with a wild love triangle. For a few, it’s a sweet, cozy story that seems “too light” for serious readers. Whatever it is, it whispers to us. And whispers are powerful. Whispers Aren’t Shame — They’re Passion We’ve been taught to feel embarrassed by the books that bring us the most joy. To call them guilty pleasures — as if pleasure needs an apology. But here’s the truth: 📖 Whispers are not shame. 📖 Whispers are intimacy. 📖 Whispers are freedom — the kind that lets us escape, dream, and feel alive. A Safe Place for Hidden Loves That’s why I created Whispers with Lisa . This is not just a blog. It’s a soft corner of the internet where you don’t h...
Read more

Rich in Love: The Heroes Who Held Me Together

Come, come sit with me… I have a story to tell you about my heroes. Not the kind you find in books or movies — mine are real. Mine have been with me since the beginning. Yes, they’re my brothers. But to me? They’re the boys . All my friends know about the boys. And I bet you’re wondering why they’re my heroes. Well… they’ve loved me, protected me, and guided me when I needed it (yes, I rebelled at the guiding — what little sister wouldn’t?) . My parents always told us that family is everything , that people will come and go in your life, but family will remain. And for us? That has always been true. The boys are like night and day — one quiet, one bold; one steady, one wild. But when we’re all together, we fit . There’s a rhythm to us, a dance we’ve been doing since childhood. And don’t even get me started on the banter — that’s a sport in our family. Teasing, laughing, pushing buttons, and loving each other through every moment. We fight, sure. We annoy each other,...
Read more

Obsession or Love? Why We Can’t Resist Morally Grey Heroes

Image
Some heroes fade the moment you close the book. And then there are the others — the ones who move in, kick off their boots, and live rent free in your head for months (or years). Those are the heroes I can’t forget. The ones who made me laugh, made me swoon, and sometimes made me yell at the page. They’re not the shiny new names topping TikTok right now. They’re older, obsession-worthy legends — men whose loyalty makes them unforgettable. This is my list of 8 heroes who prove that obsession and loyalty often go hand-in-hand … and why they’ll never leave my heart. 💕 1. Hawke Snow — Kiss of Snow (Nalini Singh) Alpha wolf, stubborn as they come, and fiercely protective. Hawke fights love every step of the way — but when he finally gives in, it’s all-consuming obsession disguised as loyalty. 2. Kaleb Krychek — Heart of Obsidian (Nalini Singh) Dark, dangerous, and unstoppable. Kaleb is feared by everyone — except the one woman he loves with a devotion that could sh...
Read more