11/25/25

I found myself shredding roasted poultry recently. I was trying not to waste any meat that could be scoured from the remains of a rotisserie chicken to have a protein-rich lunch.

Although this work serves as great preparation for capitalizing on Thanksgiving leftovers, I see deeper value in it. 

I observed that not only was I putting maximum effort into this meal, but also, I did not desire nor expect any recognition from doing so. Accordingly, I did not seek to compare my meat-garnering performance with anyone else’s, which effectively took my ego out of the situation. 

These dynamics made for a rather pleasant, in-the-moment experience! In today’s culture, it’s not too often that maximum effort can be applied and ego disappears, but this just might be the best recipe for contentment. 

If you happen to add it to your holiday menu, you may find that it’s the most filling dish. 

Cheers to putting maximum effort into gratitude.