Reflections from Antarctica ???? #2

I did it! I overcame myself! I am a true hero!!!

Yes, my friend, I baked my first-ever cake! ??

If you're tapping your forehead right now and thinking I have either gone nuts here in Antarctica, I’m an attention-seeking narcissist, or I must be utterly useless in the kitchen, I totally understand you!

Let me elaborate briefly.

I do feel like a hero because baking a cake (or anything else, for that matter) is a true accomplishment for me—one deserving of praise!

Hanging around cooking pots and baking trays in the kitchen is not exactly my forte (nor my favourite pastime). I kind of got into it out of necessity—and learned a useful lesson in the process...

Here at the Mendel Polar Station, we don’t have a cook (or a cleaner), meaning we have to take on those important roles and carry out the related tasks ourselves.

And so, we have a “duty day” once a week—basically, we pair up, and the duo is responsible for feeding the entire group of 14 people and ensuring the station is kept in somewhat presentable and hygienic conditions.

Last Saturday was my duty day, and I was dreading it! Okay, I can more or less manage to cook for a party of two, but 14?! Come on!

But here’s the worst part…

The cooking standards at the Mendel Polar Station are SKY HIGH! It’s not just about feeding people—it’s about pleasing their highly demanding and sophisticated taste buds!

If you’re surprised, you’re not alone. Imagine my shock! I thought I was joining a scientific expedition—little did I know I was actually joining a bunch of scientists slash amateur culinary experts and enthusiasts in training!

OMG! ??

Don’t ask me how or why, but mealtimes and the quality of food here are taken as seriously as the science conducted at the station…

And so, picture me—I find myself surrounded by a bunch of master chefs (who have spent the past week showcasing their cooking mastery with the most delicious and refined cuisine imaginable), and now it’s my turn to please their gustatory senses for the day!

Uff! No pressure, Alena! ??

On Friday evening, my “duty pal” and I got together to discuss the menu for the day and divided our cooking responsibilities—I was in charge of Saturday lunch and the afternoon dessert!

Honestly, I don’t want to bore you with the details of this endeavour—let’s just say it was a messy affair! I found traces of flour and bits of chocolate coating in the most unexpected places—including my hair and ear canals.

But soon enough, a cake was standing proudly on the kitchen counter, looking beautiful and ready to be eaten! And I’m happy to report that it was received with great enthusiasm and widely praised—even by the most notorious of our scientific master chefs!

That Saturday, seeing that cake smiling at me and looking gorgeous, I couldn’t help but feel like a true hero! I overcame myself, embraced the challenge and my dislike of spending time in the kitchen, and achieved something totally outside my expertise and comfort zone.

If you’ve made it this far—thank you for your patience! Now, onto my reflection of the day…

What do we truly praise?

Don’t you find that we tend to praise each other for things we’re already pretty good at? Or accomplishments in our domain of expertise?

But what about praising the effort—the courage to try something new, even when it feels hard or scary (like baking a cake)? What about recognizing the intention, the willingness to step out of our comfort zone, even at the risk of failing miserably? What about celebrating the baby (and incredibly clumsy) steps? Or even a failed attempt at something new?

I truly believe that both deserve praise. In fact, I dare say that the latter deserves even more—because that’s what’s really hard!

Just think about what you’re commonly praised for. Aren’t those things just natural expressions of your talents, interests, or passions? Or skills you’ve practiced for so long that mastery and success are practically inevitable?

When I receive praise for things I do, I often think, Well, that’s nice, but I do it because I love doing it…

Honestly, I would much rather climb an about-to-erupt volcano in Sumatra, run a marathon through the ridges of the Swiss Alps (or go to Antarctica ??) than bake a cake. And yet, which one would get the most praise and have the “Alena-wow-effect”?

You guessed it—the things that come naturally to me. I love exploration and adventure. I am (often stupidly) stubborn, strong-willed, persistent, and resilient. But what about that cake?!

Okay, I was lucky this time because my cake received a good amount of praise. But I’d love to encourage all of us…

Let’s praise ourselves and others not only for their successes in their area of expertise—but also for their attempts at trying something new...

Anyway, that's what I think.

What about YOU?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

With love from Antarctica,

Alena

P.S. There was an unexpected side effect of learning to bake a cake! I never knew the amount of joy and pleasure such a simple baked creation could bring—or how much joy I would receive in return from seeing the smiles on people’s faces… ??

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????♀? Hi! I’m Alena, Founder of SHELeads · Holistic Leadership Program for Women ??

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