My son's AS level exams are over at last! Why do I have '!' at the end of this sentence? It's a sign of relief, and it's because I, as a mother, have been putting my 100% into him (in my own clumsy way) for the last few months. When people hear this they might say, "She is spoiling her son". It's not spoiling, really. It's cooperating with someone you love who is trying to perform and achieve 100%. It's only for a few months. It was a kind of self-absolution, too. As a mother and a wife I had been minus 80% sometimes in the past :( I know it myself because of the consequences I had to suffer...
I don't normally put my 100% into something or someone - even into my work. This might sound an insult to my clients (I teach languages), but I would be lying if I said I'm spending 100% of my energy in each lesson I do. The good news is I don't expect the clients to put 100% into my lessons :) Maybe 70% or 80% at most, but not 100%. I have 90 minutes lessons 3-4 times a day. If I spent 100% in each lesson, I would be burnt out in the fourth lesson and it's not going to be fair, is it?
I feel that things would be different for us if we are aware exactly when we have to be 100%, not 90%. If we aren't, we end up moaning, "I'm unlucky. Things don't work out as I expect even though I'm making an effort." I think that's because that effort wasn't 100% at the time when only 100% was good enough. We can't put 100% effort into everything all the time. I think 50%-60% effort is good enough on average. It's down to our understanding and judging when it has to be 100%.
On the other hand, there are people who try to put 100% all the time. These people spend 100% of their energy when 80% is good enough. They are amazing people indeed, but they get tired in the end and can't be 100% when they have to be. They either can't plainly perform 100% when they have to or end up making excuse why they can't and miss the opportunity.
Average effort with occasional 100% is perfect.
This cake can be made with an average effort ;) and it lasts for 3-4 days.
Ingredients (for 20cm cake tin):
120g plain flour
120g soft butter
100g sugar
2 eggs
2 pears, peeled and cored
2 tablespoon sugar
Preheat oven to 200C.
All the ingredients have to be room temperature, i.e. the same temperature, and this is the key to lovely sponge cake.
Whisk butter and sugar first in a large bowl until white and fluffy. Add eggs and mix until everything is amalgamated. Put down the hand-mixer, if you are using one, and mix in the flour by metal spoon.
Cut the pears vertically into eight pieces. Sprinkle sugar on the bottom of the tin and lay the pear pieces in a circular shape (although it might not look as if I did in the pic). Pour the cake batter and bake for about 30 minutes until a wooden skewer inserted come out clean.