Starting Point

Saturday, January 25, 2025

The package that arrived included instructions for caring for my new sourdough starter. My instructions were to “feed” the tiny starter flour and water and discard most of it when the dough doubled. Afterward, again feed flour and water, and discard most of it when the “second dough” grows. Repeating that entire process over a week or more would “optimize” the doughball.

Following those instructions gives me mixed feelings. It seems wasteful to toss “living dough” and then start over to feed and toss. I’m a new sourdough caretaker, uncertain of what “optimizing” means. I suppose those repeated small-batch feedings strengthen a core so it has maximum efficiency in a bread mix.

While having such “supposing thoughts” about the dough, I also think about us and consider “trigger words,” like feed, discard, and feed again. They suggest how people usually learn and grow–similar to how a sourdough ball grows. By translating “feeding” into “learning.” we glimpse a key way our human skills develop.

Our journey of learning and growth is a continuous process. We absorb information, and like a sourdough starter being fed, we take in new knowledge. We evaluate its relevance and retain what nourishes us. We discard what doesn’t serve our growth. Each feeding deepens our understanding and makes us more discerning and wiser.

Humans become more resilient through the ongoing cycles of learning and refinement. They shape our perspectives and strengthen our abilities to navigate life’s complexities.

Lesson recognized: Sourdough starters and all other living beings evolve similarly.

Dear Friends: Soon, I will create a loaf of this complex bread from scratch. Diana