The Messy Journey of Making Bagels and Finding Yourself

Life’s busy. Between work, errands, and everything in between, it feels like there’s never enough time to do the things you love. But somehow, I still find myself making bagels. Why? Because, well, I have a strange obsession with dough—and the fact that it involves carbs doesn’t hurt either.

Making bagels isn’t just about flour, water, and yeast. It’s a journey—a very messy, occasionally frustrating, yet strangely satisfying journey. And honestly, it’s kind of like life: you show up, you knead, you rise (hopefully), and sometimes… it looks nothing like you imagined.

Creating in the Midst of Chaos

It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, where time slips through your fingers faster than you can say “deadline.” Honestly, some days it feels like I’m barely keeping up with everything—work, errands, the thousand little things that always need doing. So when I carve out time to make bagels, it’s not because I have it all figured out. It’s because, in the middle of all that chaos, I need something that’s just for me.

Finding time for creativity isn’t about waiting for the “perfect” moment. If I did that, I’d never do anything. The reality is, life is always busy. But when I make those bagels—when I pause to knead dough and wait for it to rise—I’m doing more than just following a recipe. I’m making space for myself in a world that’s always demanding more of me. It’s not easy. Sometimes it feels like I’m stealing time from something else. But it’s worth it, because creativity isn’t just something you do—it’s something you have to actively make room for.

When Your Bagels Don’t Look Like Pinterest: That’s Okay

Let’s talk about failure. Sometimes, I end up with bagels that look like they’ve been through a crispy identity crisis. One’s too big, one’s too small, and one has a weirdly aggressive crack down the middle. But here’s the thing: while my bagels may not win any beauty contests, they still taste amazing. Soft, chewy, and perfectly acceptable to eat for dinner. (Okay, maybe breakfast too, but let’s not get crazy.)

Life’s a bit like that. Things don’t always turn out the way you picture them in your head—whether it’s a project at work or that DIY Pinterest craft you tried. But guess what? It’s what’s on the inside that counts. Your dough (and your effort) might look a little lumpy, but it still makes a damn good meal.

Perseverance When You’re Too Tired to Function

There are days when I really don’t want to make bagels. Like, really don’t want to make bagels. My body is telling me to nap, my couch is calling my name, and yet… I push through. Because sometimes, pushing through is all we can do.

Perseverance isn’t about some mythical burst of energy. It’s about showing up, even when you’re tired and wondering why you didn’t just order a dozen bagels from the store. But no, I must knead. I must rise. And somehow, it’s always worth it, even when I’m tempted to give up halfway through, but try again a different day.

The Real Reward: It’s Not About the Perfect Bagel

By the end of the process, I’m usually tired, sticky, and have flour in my hair, on my clothes, and dough under my fingernails. But when I pull those imperfect bagels from the oven—golden brown and, more importantly, delicious—it’s worth it. The reward isn’t in the perfect bagel, but in the joy of creation, in the little victory of sticking with it.

The same goes for life. You might have some days where things don’t turn out the way you planned (looking at you, “Pinterest Fail”). But showing up, putting in the effort, and savoring the journey—that’s the real win.

Final Thoughts:

In the end, it’s not about the perfect bagel or the flawless result. The real reward has been in the journey itself—showing up, even when I’m busy, and finding moments of peace and creativity in the chaos. Sometimes, the end result isn’t even about what I make, but about being present in the process.

Perseverance isn’t about having everything figured out; it’s about continuing, even when things are messier than a toddler with a spaghetti dinner. And sometimes, the greatest reward is simply taking the time to create—to just be, like a cat napping in a sunbeam, completely unconcerned with the chaos around it.

Making bagels has reminded me that sometimes the act of creation is just as important as the end result. In the mess of flour, dough, and imperfect shapes, I’ve learned a lot about patience, presence, and how to find myself in the quiet moments of the process. It’s not always about what you’re creating—it’s about who you become while creating it.

That Bagel