The Morning I Met Myself Over Waffles

How slowing down for breakfast reminded me who I really am

Photo by Sheelah Brennan on Unsplash

It was an ordinary morning. I wasn’t searching for answers. I wasn’t trying to solve anything or unlock some hidden part of myself. I just wanted waffles.

I made them the way I like- crispy at the edges, soft in the middle, with butter that melts instantly and syrup that settles into every pocket. I sat down at the table, alone. No phone. No music. Just me, the waffles, and the stillness of a quiet morning.

Somewhere between the first bite and the last, something unexpected happened. I felt a presence — not from the outside, but from within. A soft awareness. A calm I hadn’t noticed in a while. And then I realized, I was meeting myself.

Not the version that’s always busy, distracted, or worried. Not the one who’s always trying to get things done or hold it all together. This was the quieter me. The more grounded one. The part of me that still believes in slow mornings, warm food, and the simple joy of being alive.

It’s strange how rarely we actually sit with ourselves. We move from one task to another, constantly stimulated, always “on.” We’ve learned to keep ourselves busy because silence can be confronting. Being alone with your thoughts can feel unfamiliar, even uncomfortable. But in that small moment over breakfast, I realized how much I had been craving exactly that… a pause, a breath, a soft return to self.

In psychology, this kind of presence is essential. It allows the brain and nervous system to reset. When we’re constantly moving, multitasking, and reacting, we stay in a state of heightened alertness. Our bodies interpret this as stress, even if we don’t notice it. Over time, this makes it harder to access calm, clarity, or creativity.

But when we slow down, when we eat without rushing, breathe without distraction, or sit without performing — we create space for something else to show up. We make room for awareness. For reflection. For connection.

That morning, the waffles became more than breakfast. They became a mirror. Through the simple act of eating slowly, I remembered a part of myself that gets buried beneath the noise. The part that doesn’t need to hustle or prove anything. The part that just wants to be.

We often think of self-connection as something we need to work hard for. We try journaling, meditating, reading self-help books, or going on retreats. And all of those things are valuable. But sometimes, the most profound reconnection happens in the smallest, most unexpected places. Like at a breakfast table. With waffles.

This is the kind of healing that doesn’t look like healing. It doesn’t announce itself. It doesn’t come with answers. It just arrives quietly, reminding you that you’re still here. That you haven’t lost yourself, you’ve just been moving too fast to notice.

The mind settles when the body is safe. And safety doesn’t always come from therapy sessions or big breakthroughs. Sometimes, it comes from a warm plate of food. From a moment of silence. From allowing yourself to simply exist without judgment or expectation.

There’s a reason many cultures treat meals as sacred. Sharing food, eating mindfully, and honouring the moment can become a form of ritual. When we stop treating food as just fuel and begin to see it as an experience, we reconnect to something deeper. To gratitude. To presence. To ourselves.

That morning made me think about how much of life we miss because we’re rushing through it. We eat while working, scroll while walking, and talk while half-listening. We do so many things at once that we forget how to just be with what is.

But the truth is, the self you’re searching for isn’t far away. It’s not hidden in some future version of you. It’s already here. Waiting in the quiet. Waiting for you to slow down. Waiting, perhaps, over waffles.

So the next time you find yourself in a simple moment, whether it’s making tea, taking a walk, or sitting alone at a table, try not to rush. Turn off the noise. Feel your breath. Taste your food. Let the moment be enough.

You might be surprised who shows up.

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Edited by Wandering Mind