Day 19 - “New” Restaurant

Day 19 brought the gentlest kind of expansion: trying Verde Restaurant in Costa Mesa with some of my amazing Townsend Leadership Program members and my husband, Dennis. Let me be honest—this wasn't exactly a hardship. I love trying new food, love discovering new places, love the adventure of unfamiliar menus.

But here's what made it interesting: I ordered a protein salad that came with broccolini—definitely not a favorite of mine. Instead of just accepting what came with the dish, I noticed they had charred snap peas in the starters section. So I asked for a substitution, which they graciously agreed to do.

The result? Absolutely delicious. Exactly what my body was craving.

This moment reminded me that sometimes a challenge is exactly the opposite of what we expect—it's like a self-care hug rather than a hardship. The nervous system expansion here wasn't about enduring something difficult; it was about advocating for what I actually wanted instead of settling for what was offered.

There's something profound about recognizing that growth doesn't always have to feel like struggle. Sometimes it looks like asking for the charred snap peas instead of accepting the broccolini. Sometimes it's about being willing to customize our experience rather than just taking what's presented as the only option.

The expansion happened in the asking, in the willingness to make a simple request that honored my preferences. How often do we accept what's offered without considering that a small adjustment might create exactly what we need?

Sitting around that table with fellow leaders, enjoying food that had been tailored to what I actually wanted, I felt the particular satisfaction that comes from gentle self-advocacy. The nervous system challenge wasn't about forcing myself to eat something I didn't enjoy—it was about practicing the art of creating experiences that truly nourish me.

Sometimes growth tastes like charred snap peas in good company. Sometimes expansion is as simple as asking for what we actually want instead of settling for what we think we should accept.