Sourdough bread is a metaphor for life.

... well, sort of.

See, sourdough takes time. Depending on how you chose to ferment or proof your loaf, it can take between 13 and 36 hours of waiting, planning, and simple actions.

Is it challenging to make? Hardly, you need 3 ingredients: flour, water, and salt.

Are there tricky techniques? Sure, but you can do it without. It won't look the same as the ones you see in the store, but it will be yours.

Then what takes so long?

It is because a sourdough loaf, up until it's baked, is a living and breathing organism.

Fermentation is happening, yeast are consuming sugar, carbon dioxide is being released, and the flour is creating structure through the development of gluten. Here's the thing, it's all happening while your dough is at rest.

Then comes the moment you stick your loaf in the oven.

How will it turn out?
Will it have an open crumb?
Will it be dense?
Will the inside be soft and custardy?
Or, gummy?

You'll never know!
You have to wait and see.

Life is a lot of wait-and-see.
Life is a lot of waiting or delayed gratification.
Life is unknown.

There's no guarantee how your bread will turn out until it's opened up.
In the same way, there's no guarantee tomorrow will be better for today.

And just like your bread, what you do in the moment - now - makes all the difference.

Try to enjoy the moment a bit more today.