Calling in Well – My Personal Holiday for 40+ Years

Finding freedom in a moment of perfect clarity and choosing amor fati.

---

Thanks for connecting here at VeganWeekly, where we are making the world a better place, one plant-based meal at a time!

Your support helps me keep writing and creating.

---

The flight of the seagull ¦ Photo by Jack McNulty

“My formula for greatness in a human being is amor fati: that one wants nothing to be different, not forward, not backward, not in all eternity. Not merely bear what is necessary, still less conceal it...but love it." ― Friedrich Nietzsche

In embracing Nietzsche's concept of amor fati - a love of fate - I found that sometimes life's most profound moments come not from fighting against our circumstances, but from choosing to love the moment exactly as it presents itself. This is a story about one such moment.

Before I became a plant-based chef, before I understood the freedom of creating food that aligned with my values, I learned an important lesson about authenticity from some seagulls in San Francisco. Every November 1st since then reminds me of that pivotal moment when I first chose to listen to my inner voice.

Picture this: San Francisco, early 1980s. Fresh out of university, I was dutifully playing my part in the great American dream – or so everyone told me. My days were filled with meaningless paperwork at some forgettable company, doing what was "expected" of a young professional. Five days a week, I'd drag myself to an office, feeling like a cork bobbing aimlessly in the bay. Little did I know that all it would take was one perfect morning to shake me from this existence.

Then came that November morning. I recall hearing my alarm buzzing like any other day, but something was different this time – as if the world itself had pressed pause on my mundane life.

That morning unveiled itself with absolute perfection. San Francisco's skyline stood against the blue sky with impossible clarity, each building etched like a masterpiece. Seagulls soared above the park across the street. I watched them closely, envying their absolute freedom. They were living – truly living – while I felt stuck in a routine that was unfulfilling.

That's when it hit me. The blue sky and watching nature unfold in front of me made me feel well. Too well, in fact. In a moment of beautiful clarity, I reached for the phone (this was back when phones were anchored to walls and had cords that could stretch into next week). But instead of the usual "I'm sick" routine, I did something radical – I called in “well.”

"I'm sorry," I told my bewildered supervisor, "but I'm feeling far too well to waste this day inside. The weather's perfect, life is calling, and those projects on my desk can wait." The silence on the other end echoed disbelief, but I didn't care...I was already mentally walking on the beach, tasting the salt air.

I spent that day exploring tidepools near Half Moon Bay, watching tiny universes unfold in each rock pool. The ocean stretched endlessly before me, and I realized something profound: Why was I living someone else's version of my life?

In that moment, with the clarity of a child's mind, I found my answer.

Right there, with salt air in my lungs and sand between my toes, I made November 1st my personal holiday – Jack's Day. A day dedicated to being well, to choosing life over routine, and to remembering that profound moment when I chose to listen to my inner self.

Image courtesy of Unsplash

Now, 40+ years later, that same spirit guides my work as a plant-based chef and writer.

Life lived without purpose or direction is like always trying to swallow an ocean, instead of being satisfied with drinking a glass of water. This wisdom shapes everything I create in my kitchen – simple, authentic food that serves genuine nourishment for both body and spirit.

That seagull's freedom I envied so long ago? I found it in creating a life that feels true, one mindful choice at a time. The ocean will always be there, but sometimes a glass of water is exactly enough.

Here's to another Jack's Day – when calling in well beats calling in sick, and being true to yourself surpasses meeting expectations.

Photo by Adrian Ehrbar

---

Please consider subscribing to ensure you get my recipe ideas delivered to your inbox...or viewable and printable in my Recipe Index online. All recipes are accessible to paid supporters only.

---

Do You Have a 'Calling in Well' Story?

Have you ever had a moment when you chose authenticity over expectation? Or maybe you have your own version of Jack's Day? I'd love to hear about times when you listened to your inner self and chose to be well.

Drop your story in the comments below – whether it's a life-changing decision or a simple moment of choosing yourself.

No time for a full story? A quick heart tap below tells me you're alive and well!

Feel like spreading the wellness? Find me on Substack Notes to comment or restack. Sometimes the bravest conversations start with just a few words.

---

Something to think about...

"Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." - John Lennon

---

Social Media

Catch up with me on social media.

Facebook  ¦  Instagram  ¦ LinkedIn ¦

One of the best ways to share your appreciation of my work is to share it with your circle of friends, family, or your social media world. While you’re at it, maybe you would like to gift someone a subscription.

---