My Apple Crumble Goals

Can I keep up with all the stuff I’m baking this December and the massive realisations that come to my mind as I embark on new recipe projects?

Yes, I surely can, because it’s December—a strictly no judgement/no criticism zone for how much you bake, eat, and reflect!

Yesterday’s afternoon #applecrumbleproject started lightheartedly: “Easy peasy, I’ll be done in 15, then I can crack on with other stuff—get my nails done, finish putting up the Christmas decorations…” Spoiler alert: it took me 1 hour and 20 minutes (excluding baking time) to make this apple crumble (my first crumble!) compared to the “estimated” 10-minute prep + 35-minute bake time in the recipe.

And what about all those other goals I’d planned to get done by the end of the day? Well…nothing. In the end, it was just me—tired but satisfied—lying on the sofa, munching on my apple crumble, Christmas lights half-finished, and my nails still bare 😂.

What happened then?

What happened is that this project made me reflect deeply on how I’ve been setting my goals—what drives me to pursue them and whether they align with who I really am.

Funny enough, it all started because my husband mentioned craving an apple crumble the day before. It struck me that while crumble scores high on my list of favourite puddings, I’d never baked one myself. On top of having a strong sweet tooth, I’m also an incurably curious cat. I love trying new things, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity—not just to bake but also to experiment with something different for my social media, where I’m exploring my style and message.

Once I started, I realised how much I was loving the process. I felt completely in my zone, fuelled by curiosity, love, fun, and creativity. These are the values that drive me in life and help me achieve the things I deeply desire.

The project took longer than expected. Editing video clips, aligning them with music, keeping the workspace tidy for “the ‘gram,” and measuring ingredients—all of it demanded far more effort and time than I’d anticipated. Let me tell you, I’m no content creator, let alone a pastry chef! Yet, despite the unexpected challenges, I felt engaged, excited and energised.

The Reflection

Once the crumble was out of the oven and smelling divine, I cut myself a generous, well-earned slice, curled up on the sofa, and started scrolling through my phone. I decided to check out the pictures I’d taken on this very day a year ago—14th December 2023.

That’s when I stumbled upon a photo of myself: there I was, sipping Prosecco and dancing to Christmas songs with my husband in our living room. My eyes in the picture caught my attention, and as I stared at the photo, I was flooded with memories. I remembered exactly how I’d felt that day: the thoughts racing through my head, my mindset at the time, the things going on in my life, and the promises I’d made to myself for the year ahead.

There I was, standing at the brink of 2024—the first and last time I’d ever begin that year. I had all my dreams, projects, and goals lined up, blissfully unaware of what I’d achieve and what I wouldn’t.

Flash forward to today, 14th December 2024. And here I am, looking at that version of me from a year ago while lying on the sofa, munching on my first-ever apple crumble after spending the afternoon pretending to be a chef and content creator.

So, what did I achieve this year?

Have I ticked off every single goal I set for myself? No. But I have accomplished the ones that truly resonated with what I #TrulyMadlyDeeply wanted.

And that got me thinking: what did the goals I managed to achieve have in common?

1. They moved something BIG in me. Whether it was curiosity, creativity, love, or ambition, these goals resonated deeply with my core values.

2. They never felt like a burden. Even on low-energy days, I naturally gravitated toward these goals.

3. I stayed flexible. I allowed setbacks to become learning opportunities, took breaks when needed, and blended these goals gently into my life.

4. I released perfectionism. I just went for it, imperfections and all.

Realising this felt like a warm embrace—joy, compassion, and love all at once. These are what I call my “Apple Crumble” projects: the ones that light me up, align with my values, and bring out the best in me.

The Apple Crumble Lessons

I’ll always remember the time, energy, and effort it took to complete this baking and video project: the moments of frustration when I ran out of ideas for a scene, laughing at myself for spilling cinnamon everywhere, cleaning up the sticky mess in the oven when I forgot the baking paper.

But I’ll also remember the joy—the delicious smell of apples sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, the buttery crumble dough that tasted incredible even raw, and the satisfaction of seeing the finished product.

And you know what? I’ve decided I’ll make an apple crumble every week until December ends, simply because it’s just that good.

But beyond the recipe and video creation, here’s what this experience—and this year—taught me:

• Understand what moves something BIG in you. Whether it’s creativity, curiosity, ambition, or anything else.. let those things guide in your goal setting and pursue.

• Go after what aligns with your true self. In Japanese culture, there’s a concept called ikigai—your reason for getting up in the morning. When your goals are connected to your ikigai, the journey feels natural and fulfilling. (By the way, if you want to find your ikigai, I’d be happy to help!)

  
  

A Little Reflection Exercise for You:

Now, I’d like to invite you to join me in this practice:

1. Open your phone and find a picture of yourself from this same day last year.

2. Look into your own eyes. Ask yourself:

   • Who are you now, compared to the person in that photo?

   • What would you like to say to that version of yourself?

   • What promises will you make to yourself as you step into the new year?

Have a blessed, reflective, and inspiring baking season!

Much love,Aga