I didn't like oranges. More precisely, their peels. They smelled too bright, stuck to my hands, left a bitter aftertaste. But one day I wanted to hide from winter so much that I washed a whole kilogram of oranges and started peeling them like crazy.

The kitchen was quiet. Only the sound of a knife carefully cutting off the peel. I put the peels in a jar, filled it with water, added sugar and spices - cinnamon, cloves, cardamom. Then it all languished on the stove, and my apartment smelled of warmth, even if there was February slush outside.

The jam turned out spicy, slightly bitter, but surprisingly cozy. I spread it on toasted bread, added it to tea, even ate it with a spoon if sadness got too close.

Since then, orange peels are not trash for me. They are a reminder that even what we usually throw away can become something good.

When I want to feel that something can still be reused, I wash the oranges again. Maybe you should try it too? Sometimes simple jam is the best way to believe that everything will be sweet, even if it is bitter at first.