The Joy of Simple Solutions - Letting Go and Choosing Again

My husband and I moved at the end of 2021 and, as part of the “what do we need to make this home functional” discussion, I ordered us some very handy food storage containers to make, well, food storage, easier.

I ordered glass containers with plastic lids – able to be microwaved OR put in the oven. Easy on the eyes, and in every possible shape and size you could possibly need to store any category of food. It looked clean, simple, and functional. And, on paper, it fit all our requirements.

So, imagine my dismay when only a month or two later I couldn’t discern which lid fit which piece of glass, and the absolute frustration of having so many decisions to make each and every time I wanted to put some food into the fridge. What had once seemed like a bonus, that each shape (square, rectangular, and circular) had 4 or 5 unique sizes, became a nightmare of decision making and Tetris-ing the fridge to make it all fit.

I had made a mistake, I knew, but it was too late to go back on it – we owned it now and had to commit. Or at least that’s what I told myself.

Every use of the food storage system became a nuisance, nothing fit together, it was loud and heavy, and storing it in the cabinet became a cacophony of sound and clinking glass every single time you wanted to use something.

I desperately wanted to find another system. But I was gun-shy since the first purchase didn’t actually do what I hoped it would do (create simplicity in storing and heating food). I spent weeks…errrr, months… researching food storage on Amazon. I was targeted by every Tupperware ad you could imagine, and still I resisted the temptation to admit defeat try again.

That is, until last week – I finally just hit the purchase button on some plastic storage bins shipped straight from Germany. This very simple, clean, and effective design means I’ve now got 12 (12!!) food storage containers that are the EXACT same size and color. Every lid fits every container! They stack on top of one another without slipping! They fit in my fridge! They offer portioned sizes of food and snacks!

The absolute joy I experienced opening my pantry this morning to see the neat rows of blue and clear plastic Tefal containers stacked on top of one another is hard to describe.

It took me 1.5 years to hit purchase.

I preferred to stick with the decision I had already made, even though it was a mistake, and then I doubled down. Something I have been teaching leaders not to do for the last 6 years!

It’s funny how we can become attached to small things that don’t matter in the big scheme of things but feel like we need to just stick it out and “own it”. It’s hard to describe just how much relief there actually is in admitting you were wrong, the system isn’t working, and it’s time to throw in the towel and try something else. It feels so hard in the moment. And yet, the second you decide to switch towards new possibility the world opens up again and all you feel is relief. Joy, even.

I’ve just opened my perspective with plastic food containers... Where in your life do you find yourself doubling down? Where could you let go of a choice you made that simply does not work for you and allow yourself to choose again?

Would love to hear from you what comes up!

Lots of love,

Amanda

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