good mix

What is a “good mix”?

What makes a combination of textures, flavors and colors appealing?

What makes it good? Is it one that blends well?

One that looks good together?

One that fits? One we get used to “being together” and expect to see in this form?

I think a “good mix” is a combination of the right ingredients. If you like all the ingredients in separate form, it still is not a given that you will like them mixed together. In the dish above, it’s sweet Vidalia onions, Roma tomatoes and long Asian burpee cucumbers dashed with salt & pepper, then splashed with white house apple cider vinegar. I like them apart and together. The smell reminds me of summertime. The dish looks appealing and healthy. It’s a good mix, for me!

Merriam Webster defines “mix” as things that are combined to make one thing that is the same throughout or something totally different. The synonyms might hold a clue:  conflate, fuse, incorporate, integrate, interfuse, intermingle, intermix, meld, merge, mingle, blend.

Intermingle? I recall my son telling me not to worry about age differences between couples, if they “looked good” together it was all good.

What else do you see when you think of a good mix?

Take a close look.  Its a waterfront house, so all the views are clear blue. Notice the sailboats, Blue herons, lantern lights, nautical blues, waves on the chair in the foreground and natural light. Would you call this a “good mix”?

This balances the view, in an adjacent nook. See the similar elements? The light airy panels, open paned windows, colors and natural connection?

I think this is my definition of a good mix. Elements that blend, accentuate, enhance, connect, create a stronger impression and more pleasing result together, than apart. This concept of a good mix goes way beyond food or décor. It’s most easily seen in relationships- personal , working, casual, close, family, friends, most any contact between humans can be either a ” good mix” or like trying to put oil and vinegar together. They don’t stay mixed! You have to keep shaking them around to keep them together long enough to enjoy the dressing.

Recently, a group I was involved in took some tests to determine how we engaged with each other, could improve our leadership skills and balance our natural proclivities.  Fascinating. It was a relief of sorts to see the natural preferences of people and realize that we all change, grow, age and become different in our personality, while we stay so close to the same in our preferences. I could finally understand why being in a room of 20 women for 8 hours x 5 days was exhausting to me.  I could stop wondering why some of them felt different, energized and eager for it. While I was wading in the eternal socialization, there were some who seriously grew sad and depressed to think this was our last time to be “together”. Can there be Too Much of a Good Thing ?  How do I know they felt it was a good mix and therefore a good thing? They talked freely, expressed themselves clearly and said they wanted more of it. That’s the final definition- if its a good mix, it’s a good thing.  You just know when it happens and you desire more of it.

Good luck, finding what feels right for you! Some people need to feel included, some need to be in control, some need affection, some are energized in groups, some are emergent, some are thinkers, but all are different in their preferences. Choose your own good mix, its your life!! If anyone is interested, the salad above was quite tasty. 🙂