MasterChef and a fraction too much life friction
A thought or two on MasterChef Finale. And life friction.
Today I’m off to Hamilton Island to MC the Great Barrier Feast at Qualia, featuring Justin North from Becasse (we first met on MasterChef) and food writer Simon Thompsen (also done a cameo on MasterChef). I’ll try to post some tweets about the best flavour combinations. Follow me here. I keep getting asked if I’m watching the finale of MC. Well, rather fittingly I’ll be away for the finale of series two. Eating.
A year ago I was sitting in a pub with friends watching the finale, with me up there on the screen with the boys…and Justin North! Can I say this now? It’s been a year. I didn’t so much enjoy the experience. The whole “hosting” gig. It felt like I was a square peg shoved in a round hole, being pushed against the grain of my being.
When this happens in life – as it does from time to time, to test me – it leaves me in quite the state of friction. Being rubbed the wrong way is not good. I get irritated. Eventually I surge forward into action and find a path with a smoother surface.
Dumb Little Man posted a list of the 7 Reasons Why You’re Time Poor this week. I don’t always read these kind of things – I’m too time poor – but this jumped out as one of the reasons:
#3 You Have Too Much Life Friction
Life friction. Not good. It literally holds you back like Velcro.
Other life friction is catching a bus that goes a route to work that makes no sense. Find another route. Continuing to work with a client who does your head in and really doesn’t pay the bills big time. Drop them. Going to a gym which is on the other side of town because you haven’t got around to cancelling your membership. Switch. Wearing shoes that hurt your feet. Donate them.
Back to MasterChef. I loved the show. Love the judges like brothers. But as a woman with things to say, it was a bad fit. As a woman who cares about the fact that women on TV should say things, not just wear pretty dresses and buffer the boys, I had to act. I had to find a smoother way to flow. I did. It was hard. It was lonely. I’m so bloody happy now.
Friction happens for a reason. It slows us down enough to regroup, refocus. It forces us to choose to get unstuck. Rather than bob around. What do you reckon?
Ok, but remember that if it wasn’t for Masterchef most people wouldn’t know who you are. It was good for your profile and no doubt that gig opened up a whole world of new possibilities for you. Eg MCing at Qualia! Giving you a voice in your Sunday Life column! I’m just saying that even though it might not have been the right fit, in the long term it seems to have been very good for you. Lots of things in life are this way. It holds you back but then it propels you forward.
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Actually I never saw Sarah on Masterchef. She caught my attention as editor of Cosmo, being one of the few women’s magazine editors with something of substance to say. I remember being impressed at the mention of both quantam physics AND mountain biking in the one page!
I do agree though that it is these friction-y situations which make us who we are – force us to re-evaluate and change course if necessary for somewhere more suited to us.
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It’s funny, I noticed Sarah from her column in Sunday Life, and it wasn’t until I came to her blog that I even realized she was the same Sarah that hosted MC (even though I had been watching it religiously), so in a way, I think the square peg/round hole was indeed conveyed, so much so that I didn’t even make the connection to her role in MC!
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“As a woman who cares about the fact that women on TV should say things, not just wear pretty dresses” – having said that, you look absolutely gorgeous in the photo accompanying this article as you did on the show and i really liked watching you on Masterchef as a host.
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Sarah,
Good on you for being so frank and honest. I have recently moved from a high level consulting role to a middle management role in a very blokey environment, and while I like some aspects of the job, I can relate to your ‘square peg shoved in a round hole, being pushed against the grain of my being’ comment. I feel restricted and controlled like a puppet and there is a fraction too much friction! Those who know me would agree that I too am a woman with things to say, it seems to be a bad fit also, but I am currently toying with the decision to either fight it and change the situation or admit defeat and walk away.
Thanks for your daily insights; often mirroring and/or guiding my current thoughts.
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+1 on never seeing Sarah on the 1st series. I too found her in the Sunday Life column first, then her blog, and only then (from the blog) read about her MasterChef gig.
Like others have mentioned previously, I get the impression the format was incorrectly devised in the first place re having any host. I’m watching the 2nd series now on some nights and I can’t really see where a host would fit in given the shared hosting done by the boys.
I just love how Sarah looks so tall in EVERY photo we see of her!
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I actually have to say that i read this blog DESPITE Sarah your stint on Masterchef. I do feel you came across, as you seem to back up, as superfluous to the format, just a “Chick in a dress”. I’m happy to have seen more of you through here.
ANd it’s about doing things that fit in with your core.
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July 27th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Thanks Fiona…
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I am so glad to have stumbled across your blog today, it is wonderful and inspiring. Thank you for allowing it to exist!
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Hi Sarah,
Just wanted to say I love reading your blog. Your honesty and frankness in itself is inspirational. As well as the fact you are sharing your journey to make life more meaningful with us. I too came across your articles in Sunday Life and now I’m addicted.
Looking forward to the next installment!
Kristy
xo
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Hi Sarah,
I first became aware of you when you were editer of Cosmo I stated reading your Sunday life articles this year and now I go on your blog every day, I just love it.
I didn’t know you were host of masterchef as I didn’t watch it but after having read your blog I can’t imagine you on that show…as Beth says above I think that often we have to try what we don’t/like or enjoy to realise what we do actually love. I have lots of friends who have experienced this during their careers but you always have to go with what feels right to be most successful.
If you were still hosting masterchef perhaps you wouldn’t have as much time and energy to invest in this blog and your other current endeavours and THAT would be a shame!
Thank you again for your amazing blog! Interestingly this post reminds me of a great llittle phrase that you mentioned in an earlier post.
“you can choose what you do,
but you can’t choose what you like to do”
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July 27th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Joanne, thank you. Yep, you’re right…and thanks for quoting that line back at me. I needed it today. xxx
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I think this is very true. I’m much happier and productive when I’m in an environment that doesn’t cause life friction. For some reason, though, it can be easy to blame oneself for the friction, and to try to make oneself into the round peg. It’s nice to be reminded that that’s impossible, and that when we make the change the friction seems intent on pushing us toward, we’re much, much happier!
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