5 Life Lessons Learned by Making Chili
I make a good chili. If there were a bumper sticker for my chili, it would say… My Chili Beat Up Your Award-Winning Chili.
I am not bragging because let’s be honest, they give out awards for best chili like youth sports gives out trophies. Everyone gets one just for participating.
There are a few lessons in the making of chili that apply to life.
The best results come from a little trial and error.
I have an ingredient list. But it took me a while to get it right. One year I tried corn, another leftover holiday ham, and I have tried multiple types of beans. Most of those didn’t make the final recipe. But smoked paprika, sausage, and brown sugar have.
The application, don’t be afraid to try new things, even if you think you already got your recipe just right. You never know for sure, and as the world evolves, yesterdays just right might become tomorrow's blah. Plus, you can always return to the old way. Try new things and learn from the results.
The best results come with time
I always make my chili the day before we eat it. I then let it sit overnight. Why? Because it just tastes better when all the ingredients have time to congeal. It’s not that the chili tastes terrible on day one; it just tastes better the next day.
The application, you need to be patient in your pursuits. Allow things in your life the time necessary to congeal. Don’t always be in a hurry, and don’t expect immediate results. Immediate results might be good, but with a bit of time, the results might be way better.
Season to taste
Not everyone takes their chili at the same spice. So I leave it mild, knowing you can always add more spice, but you can’t take spice away once it is in there.
The application, when communicating, remember to start mild; not everyone reacts to sarcasm, direct tone, or humor in the same way. These are acquired tastes. When communicating, start mild and then add some spice to meet the taste of others.
Sometimes the process is messy
I make good chili but a great big mess. My wife loves the chili but hates the mess, but she views the process as worth it (as long as I clean up after myself).
The application, life isn’t a straight line; it’s a journey with twists and turns. Life is messy, but if you trust the process, especially in the messy middle, staying the course will be worth it. Just clean up after yourself. It isn’t cool to make a mess and expect other people to pick up after you. That applies to chili and life.
Do I share, or do I keep it to myself?
I get a lot of requests for the recipe. At first, I was hesitant; I didn’t want to share. I was worried I wouldn’t get the credit. I didn’t want my recipe to become someone else’s amazing chili. I got over it and realized I just want others to enjoy a good chili regardless of who gets the credit. So now I share it all the time. Even here.
The application, if you have something others want, don’t be afraid to give it away. Don’t worry about who gets the credit; worry about what happens if you don’t share your gift with the world.
Conclusion
Your best results are at the end of the messy journey we call life. Following an intentional recipe will lead to great results, but only if you allow it the time it needs to come together. And don’t be afraid to share your gifts; they might warm someone’s day like a good chili warms your belly.