Mr. Penny Pincher: Life Is Better When You Take It Low and Slow

Sunday is a big grilling day for me, in particular smoking different cuts of meat on my charcoal grill. Between my daughter’s soccer, family obligations and other life events, I don’t always have the opportunity to enjoy a “lazy Sunday,” but when I do, grilling and NFL football take precedence. 

I love to smoke tougher cuts of meat for two reasons: they’re usually cheaper and present more of a challenge than the top shelf variety. For all you grill aficionados, you’re familiar with the term “low and slow.” For anyone else, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Cooking meat slowly and at a low temperature yields the desired result of additional flavor and tenderness. 

As I was throwing meat on the grill earlier this morning, it hit me that the low and slow method is a great analogy for life. There are some things in our lives that come easy to us while others take quite a bit more time and effort. Instant gratification is nice, but how much more satisfying is it to want something and put forth the time and effort needed to achieve your goal? 

In my office at home hangs a small poster with an F. Scott Fitzgerald quote. To summarize, the quote talks about how it’s never too late to be whoever we want to be. It goes on to say that “you can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing.” The “thing” he’s speaking of is our lives. Considering it’s hanging in my office, you can deduce that I agree with the sentiment on having the ability to change whenever or however often we’d like. 

As inspiring as the quote is, what he doesn’t provide is a timeline for the change we’re looking to make. Chances are, it’s going to take longer and be slower than we’d like it be. This may be true, but similar to a rougher cut of meat being slowly broken down on the grill, there’s no reason why we can’t enjoy the process and the journey along the way. 

With the holidays approaching, an overabundance of cooking and baking will soon be taking place. The corresponding mountain of plates, dishes and messy kitchens are sure to follow. The prep and cleanup will inevitably take considerably longer than the time it takes to consume the savory dinners and delicious sweets that have been placed on the table. 

And yet, countless stories are told each year of grandma’s cooking with their grandchildren or parents handing down holiday recipes to their kids. The preparation takes hard work and effort but more often than not, that’s where the best memories are made. Other than matching up the timing with an agreed upon lunch or dinner time, there’s very little regard for how long it will take to make a cherished family classic. Everyone’s having too much fun to care. 

Maybe that’s the real lesson behind the low-and-slow approach, whether we’re cooking a tough cut of meat, working toward a personal goal or preparing a holiday meal with family. The best things in life often can’t be rushed. They require patience, effort and a willingness to enjoy the process rather than constantly watching the clock.

So as we head into another holiday season, I encourage you to slow down a little. Don’t worry so much about how long the turkey takes, how many dishes need washing or how quickly you can check everything off your to-do list. Take time to enjoy the people standing beside you in the kitchen and the memories being made along the way.

After all, the best parts of life, much like good barbecue, are worth waiting for.