Charcuterie boards are one of my specialties when it comes to parties—something I enjoy creating and eating. The art of assembling a charcuterie board mirrors what it takes to thrive in life. Just as a board can be appealing, colorful, and vibrant, so can our lives. It's all about recognizing what's already there and making intentional choices by looking within to bring it forth.
This post explores the key ingredients and techniques for crafting a fulfilling 2025. Let's dive in.
Simplicity (S)
We often compare "more" with "better." The trouble with more is that it often leads to overwhelm—too much on our plates and leaving us unsure where to begin. Life, like a charcuterie board, thrives on simplicity. Yes, this charcuterie board has a lot of stuff on it. The main ingredients are simple: cheese, crackers, and cold cuts. The fruits, fig jelly, antipasti, and rosemary are used to decorate and add color, also called the "icing on the cake."
Like in life, our body, work, shelter, and food are our main survival ingredients. The family and environment we create for our well-being are the "icing on the cake" and bring color to our lives. Life can happen without them, but being with them is much more enjoyable and meaningful.
Then, there are the different varieties of each ingredient that add some more diversity to the charcuterie. Compared to life, our bodies are made of muscles, bones, lungs, skin, and more to function, just like the different kinds of cheeses on the board. Work has various facets, such as the different crackers. By keeping things simple and focusing on what’s essential, we allow room for the natural complexities of life to unfold without overcomplicating them ourselves.
One Step at a Time (O)
Rome wasn't built in a day, nor was this charcuterie in a splash. Each one takes time, care, and attention to detail. The same applies to life.
Having a goal in mind can easily cause us to skip a few steps or lose sight of what matters. As we get closer to the "final" product, there are always some tedious moments. Taking one step at a time is essential for noticing when to adjust, when to rest, and when to keep going.
It also helps us build skills and a solid foundation, so we don’t have to start over every time—we build on what’s already there.
When we start a new charcuterie, we do so from scratch, knowing that taking one step at a time without rushing will lead us to a fulfilling end product. The beauty in making a charcuterie is that it never turns out the same. Every single one I made was unique. Sometimes, what was left from the party was recreated into a new mini version for home. Similarly, life continues to evolve. Endings become beginnings, and the lessons we’ve learned carry forward. We can create something meaningful every time by staying focused on the process and moving step by step.
Love (L)
The final ingredient to a successful life is love. Love is the answer no matter who you are, what you do, and where you are heading. When you do something wholeheartedly, be present while doing it, and let each moment determine your next move, there is no other and better way to make it in life.
Life is built on small, simple, and purposeful connections. If everything we touch and connect with, be it our bodies, work, shelter, and food, we will embrace the "icing on the cake," our families and environments, with more gratitude and appreciation. That is all it takes to be successful in life. Everything else will fall into place.
Now go out, share your smile and a little hello with everyone you pass by, and lead with your SOL (Simplicity, One Step, Love).
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