by Darlene Arechederra
We all have those moments, don't we? We're right in the middle
of a project, and it's simply not going well. Like me, you may find yourself
becoming irritated, wishing you could find an easier way to get the job done (or
even eliminate it completely.) I'd settle for a tool that would make quick work
of it. Life is just too precious to spend time being irritated. I found myself
in this position a few weeks ago while making meatballs.
Not-So-Nice Things Now, I grew up on a small farm out in the
country. And on a farm you learn to handle lots of things. Creatures. Animals.
Newborns. And occasionally, some not-so-nice things. But, even wearing gloves, I
absolutely can't stand my hands mussing about in raw hamburger. It reminds me of
the slimy feel of a worm that's going on the hook for bait. It leaves me with an
uncomfortable, fluttery feeling in the pit of my stomach. Not at all how I, as a
woman, want to feel.
The Journey Now, keep in mind, this journey into the Land of the
Meatball is only beginning. We've still got to scoop the burger out of the bowl.
Scrape it off the spoon. And only then can we finally roll the critters into
meatballs. Scoop. Scrape. Roll. Over and over. It's like waiting for that worm
to do it's job of luring in a tasty fish. It's a time thing. But, just as fresh
catch is always a nice treat, I know these meatballs will be worth waiting for
when the work's finished. They are serving a special purpose. Let me share it
with you.
The Strategy Because it's so flexible, I stir up several batches
of meatloaf mix every other month. I then convert them into meatballs, cooking
all the batches that day. Some go for spaghetti. Others I'll freeze for meatball
sandwiches or Swedish Meatballs in cream sauce. If I'm feeling lazy (smile) I
simply make several meatloafs. So why are these meatballs so important in the
scheme of things? Because they keep us from eating out. They can be frozen after
being cooked, which saves me huge amounts of time. We make six to eight meals
out of them. We could easily spend a minimum of $18 per meal eating out. So in
money terms, it saves us an average of $126 each time I make these meatballs in
a batch. You see, it's part of how I save money. It's just that important to me.
But surely there's an easier way to get the job done!
What Is It That Would *Really* Help? I donned my thinking cap...
Now, I knew what I wanted. A scoop large enough to make it worth digging into
the bowl. Light enough to avoid aggravation of a mild carpal tunnel problem.
Something that would automatically slide the mix out. And lastly, something
naturally round to alleviate the tedium of rolling into balls. I was on a
Mission! After several days of searching with no luck, I considered inventing
such a tool. I changed my mind after calculating how many meatballs I'd need to
make to earn my money back on the patent. And then . . . it happened. The
lightbulb clicked. The earth moved (or was that me, jumping for joy?) But I
digress.
The Solution I had found the perfect tool! And one that carries
with it such sweet memories: an ice cream scoop. You know the type. As you
squeeze the lever, a small piece of steel rotates inside, scooping the food out
along the way. Could it get any easier than this? Admittedly, I paid quite a
price for this stainless steel ice cream scoop. But what a relief! And you know
what? I realized I had been tolerating this problem for way too long now! Can
you relate to what I'm talking about here? Have you found your own tasks
difficult due to lack of helpful tools?
Take Time to Consider If you find yourself becoming irritated
while doing a chore or task, stop for a moment. Consider which part of it is
bothering you. Or what is more difficult than it needs to be. Begin a tool list.
As you think of items that would make your life easier, jot them down.
Brainstorm ideas. Have friends or family members experienced the same
frustrations? Ask them to share with you their own solutions or ideas.
Motivation Through Small Rewards And, when you've completed a
few tasks that aren't quite your favorites, treat yourself to one of the smaller
items on your new tool list. Life can be difficult. Some things you simply have
no control over. But why not find an easier way to do the things you can
control? You'll save time and energy. Having helpful tools will even save you
money. So go ahead. Start your tool list today. It's good for the soul!
Author and ezine editor Darlene Arechederra inspires busy women to put the fun
back into saving their money. Her complimentary newsletter serves up heaps of
motivation with a unique, down-home style of writing. Join her today at http://www.RatRaceRemedies.com