I don’t think anybody I know IRL will really get it. I’ve only been there a couple weeks so I’m well aware that some of the shiny will probably wear off once the grind sets in, but rn I’ve never been more certain that this is what I want to do with my life. I leave every day with a huge smile on my face knowing I’m doing the right thing.

For context, I’m an experienced (15 years) cook with nutrition qualifications (six years of uni; BSc Food Tech, M. Nutrition and Population Health, not marketing disguised as science). I just got a position as lead cook / kitchen manager at a community housing org, for adults that are “at risk of homelessness”. Mental health issues, disabilities, lack of support network, that kind of thing. Part of the package they get is an evening meal.

For some of them it might be the only square meal they get in a day. If it was up to me, they’d have three meals a day, 24/7 room service, whatever they needed. But capitalism is gonna do its thing, at least for the moment. I feel like I’m doing what I can to hold back the crushing oppression, at least in this little corner of the world.

I’ve already heard some tragic stories, which I’m not really at liberty to share. Suffice to say some of these folks have had pretty rough lives, and ended up in a shit situation through absolutely no fault of their own. Kind of sobering how a person can just be going thru life, doing nothing wrong, and suddenly their body just goes “Nope, fuck you.” And that’s kind of … it. I mean I always knew that, intellectually. But hearing it firsthand is different.

Being able to make them smile and feel happy and satisfied with at least one thing that isn’t actively harmful (although some of the current menu is questionable, but I’m working on that) at least for the ten minutes they’re eating, honestly feels like my life is complete. One single, sullen, gruff “thanks chef” from one of these folks is worth more to me than any compliment or monetary tip any bougie fuck in a fancy restaurant has ever given me.