A few months ago Jeff got this wild idea that he wanted a boat. Well, more accurately, he wanted to join a boat club. At first I indulged him with some genuinely engaged nodding and well-timed Mmm-hmms. Then, as time went on I digressed into some serious eye-rolling and audible sighing. I truly thought it was just a pipe dream. I figured it would never happen.
I should have known, though, that he doesn’t speak something into life until it’s pretty much a given so writing this idea off was a drastic miscalculation. The boat club was happening, whether I liked it or not.
And, well, I didn’t like it. Despite being an Instagrammer’s dream, boats just aren’t my thing. I suffered through the various stages of grief* on this one: Anger (I don’t WANT a BOAT), Disbelief (You didn’t really sign up, did you?), Confusion (What exactly is a boat?). None of them worked. The Boat Club was a go.
Not only was it a go which I was completely unable to avoid, I also had to be an active participant . Because in order to be an official “boat club member” (with a bumper sticker and everything), I needed to learn how to drive a boat. Which is a pretty funny thought even if you don’t know me personally. If you do know me in real life, or better yet, if you’ve ever been in the car with me, it’s downright hilarious. Because Meaghan and boats DO NOT MIX.
Nevertheless, as I am spending the first year of my 40’s making headway in the fear department, and my husband is extremely persistent when he wants his way, I gave in. And giving in in this situation found me on a boat, learning how to drive. To say I wasn’t the most willing student would be a complete understatement. I’m not at all ashamed to admit that there was maybe a little shrieking. Also some ill-timed and completely nervous laughter. And definitely a few nervous sweats. Because driving a boat, y’all, is scary to me. (so don’t judge)
Despite all of my protestations, I managed to be mildly adept at boat captaining through open water. Sure, I did scream through some of it and also curse under my breath (or, more accurately, out loud). But I did it. Though I quickly learned that open water was only part of the equation. I also needed to learn how to dock the boat.
Yes. I just said DOCK THE BOAT.
The idea of docking a boat is as foreign to me as the idea of parallel parking. Why would anyone ever do that? I seriously have no idea. Big trucks backing into a parking space for no reason? Just crazy. So pulling a boat up next to a wooden pier in the water? Sounds dumb. Can’t we just anchor and swim away? Seems like a solid solution to me.
But, no, docking was essential and at this point in boat captain school, I really wanted that bumper sticker. So I was all in. Despite the nervous sweat, I settled in to the captains seat and our ever-so-patient instructor began to explain the Bump Method of Boat Docking. Not sure what that is? Well, it’s apparently the safest and most sound way to approach a dock, and it’s near foolproof. You simply:
Drift. Bump. (repeat) Dock.
Sounds silly, right? But bear with me. The premise is the boat and the water will do the work if you let it. All you need to do is guide the boat in the right direction (drift) and provide slight corrections with minimal power (bump) to get where you need to go.
Drift. Bump. (repeat) Dock.
Guys…the bump method is LIFE.
It turns out that most docking accidents happen when boaters get a little too confident. They come in hot to the dock, like they’re in a Die Hard remake, and crash. It’s overconfidence and too much of everything that causes the crash. It’s hubris at it’s finest. It’s “I’ve GOT this,” and “Here, hold my beer.” ** This is the scary stuff. This is where the meltdown occurs and the boat meets the dock.
This is disaster.
But the Bump method, this is life. I live and die by the bump, and I’ve been doing it before before I even knew it was a method.
I haven’t always, though. I actually lived by the Crash and Burn Method for years. Crash and Burns feels good sometimes. You feel like “I’ve GOT THIS.” You feel like a BOSS. The world calls the Crash and Burn Method, “Hustle,” and the message is this: you are captain of your own ship and HUSTLE is how you reach your goals. And FAST. Deep down inside, I think we all know the Hustle isn’t the only way, or even the right one. I think we all feel, somewhere quiet and inside, that the HUSTLE is actually for the birds and it’s slowly killing us. I am pretty sure we also feel like the HUSTLE will eventually lead us to disaster or meltdown.
But we do it anyway because in this world of overnight sensations and YouTube millionaires, we buy the lie that we are captains of our own ships and if we hustle enough, it’s all in our hands.
But the Bump, it’s a completely different way to live, and after doing both, I tend to like the Bump better. In this world of “captain of my fate, master of my soul” the drift seems passive. It seems weak and reactive. But I’ve come to learn that it’s not. The bump gets you where you’re supposed to be and it allows life to feel like it’s supposed to feel, not crazy, not die hard, not round peg square hole.
I, personally, love the bump method in life.
The drift is using what God’s given you–the boat and the water. It’s letting those two things do what they do–flow and float. It’s leaning in to the ebb and flow of life, using the gifts you have to do what you’re supposed to be doing. And the drift, it’s the good stuff. I am drifting when I’m relaxed and doing what I love. I’m drifting when I’m writing. I’m drifting when I’m cooking and creating and taking pictures. Drifting is not not working (forgive my double negative, folks). It is absolutely working, but it’s working in the zone where work feels right and natural and important. The drift is necessary for you to be your best you.
And the bump….oh the bump. I like to think of the bump as God calling. The bump is that “Oh YES” moment where things make sense and a big break comes your way. It’s the OH YES moment when you see a hard-fought goal’s end in plain sight and you pray for the strength to push through. It’s power and energy in a very focused state. It’s how I get when a deadline is looming or when I’m passionate about what I’m writing. It’s the Bump needed to get you there, just a little extra. The Bump is usually not completely on you. The BUMP is usually God, friends.
And DOCK….dock is home. Dock is life. Dock is your goals, your dreams, where God wants you to be, when God wants you to be there. Dock is your end game.
Y’all, why did it take a boating class to make me see this?
After all of this, I learned two things. The first thing I learned is that I am actually, believe it or not, a wickedly good boat captain. I docked that boat like a champ. I stopped screaming somewhere around my third Bump and I began to relax. Boating, while still not my favorite thing to do, is actually a good idea. (though you are out of your ever-loving mind if you think I will ever admit this to Jeff)
The second is this: there are a lot of ways to dock a boat (read: reach a goal). The world tells you that it’s solely YOUR hustle, your GRIT, your PUSH that will get you there. It’s all on your shoulders and you are captain of your own fate. We see success on social media and in life as instant and easy and think if we just push harder and work more, we can get there.
But y’all, this is exhausting. I know. Because I’ve done it.
The truth is, we can’t hustle all the time. It’s not sustainable. It’s not safe. And it’s not healthy. It causes crash and burn. It’s how we burn out at 40 and get tired of leaning in. Life, as I see it, is not meant to be hustle. It’s meant to be more Bump. I see bump as living within God’s plan for your life. It feels right. There is hustle, but it’s passion driven hustle that feels like flow. It still gets you there. You get to dock, but you stay in tact and healthy and at peace. And I promise that’s better than a crash and burn, any day. 
So today’s recipe, it’s not a crash and burn. It’s a legit Bump Method meal. It feels right. It tastes right. And it’s good for you. While I am not technically Keto, I made the mistake of letting D watch a documentary on the health benefits of the diet, and being the impressionable tween that he is he’s now trying to be Keto healthy. Which is funny considering his favorite food is chicken nuggets. But, I digress…
I created this for him. And while I don’t follow the diet, I can get behind this one. A marriage of my Rosemary Mushroom Chicken with a cream based sauce, this is a delicious and quick #toolboxrecipe fit for any day of the week. I have used both chicken tenders and thighs and personally prefer it with the thighs. But both will work in a pinch. If you want a thicker sauce, combine a spoonful of corn starch with water into a paste and stir it into the sauce for a few minutes. It will thicken up nicely.
Serve this one over egg noodles (or zoodles if you’re truly KETO) and give yourself a bump for the night.
Peace, love and bump,
Meg
*not, as far as I know, the actual stages of grief
**Drinking and Boating is a serious no-go, y’all.
Creamy Keto Chicken and Mushrooms
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs OR chicken tenders
- 16 ounces pre-sliced baby bella mushrooms
- 1 onion, diced small
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, stripped from stems and finely diced
- 2 tablespoon butter (or coconut oil)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Directions
- Step 1 Melt 1 tablespoon coconut oil in a large skillet.
- Step 2 Generously salt and pepper the chicken and then add to pan once hot.
- Step 3 Brown on both sides, roughly 3-5 minutes per side.
- Step 4 Remove from pan but DO NOT WIPE OUT.
- Step 5 Add remaining oil. Once melted, add onions, salt and pepper and half of the thyme.
- Step 6 Cook until slightly softened.
- Step 7 Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned.
- Step 8 Add in broth and cream, stir to combine.
- Step 9 Bring to a simmer and add chicken to pan.
- Step 10 Cook, 10-15 more minutes until chicken is cooked through and sauce is slightly thickened.
- Step 11 Taste for seasoning and add remaining thyme.
- Step 12 Serve over Noodles or Zoodles.
- Step 13 Enjoy!
Welcome to BurntToast! My name is Meaghan, and this is my safe space, a place where we can share stories, share recipes and share life. It’s my dream that you can come here, kick your shoes off and pour yourself a glass of wine while you read, laugh, and maybe even hop into the kitchen. This is my heart, for all of you to see. And ALL are welcome here.