I agree that prep is a way to invite peace into the day. Sometimes we rush to the cooking step and hurry to the serving and eating that it "feels" like a chore that just needs to be completed. I have found that taking the proper time to prep first, invites the next steps to much more enjoyable. I enjoy each step in the cooking process. I even sometimes sing and dance while I'm cooking. I stage all the finished dishes with intention and throughly enjoy the dining phase with others or by myself with a level of gratitude I do not feel otherwise. The cleanup also feels therapeutic after a peaceful, satisfying meal.