Simplify! Why looking back can help.

Restaurants have changed. Yes, I know. Everything has changed. And especially since the pandemic, everything but everything has changed. The thing is, that since the pandemic especially, restaurant staff has decreased yet restaurants are producing larger size servings and jacking up prices, to make up for lost revenue. Dining out is one of the nicer experiences in life, but it can be very, very costly to go out even 1 day a week. What are we to do? The answer is simple. And the Answer is simplify, simplify, simplify. Years ago, it was no problem to go to a restaurant to order an appetizer then a full entree and perhaps even a salad and dessert. Going out with a family of 3 or 4 and doing that can cost you big bucks. Recently we found that by studying the appetizer or starters section of the menu carefully, we can actually end up with a great meal and pay less for it. I'll give you an example. In one of our favorite Greek restaurants, spinach pie is available as an entree that comes...

As society and our culture have evolved, we've felt a greater sense of freedom because of the exponentially increasing number of choices we have, everywhere we turn. But freedom like this can be a double-edged sword. I don't know about you, but when I go to the market for grocery shopping, I've learned to accept the exasperation I feel when I exit the store. So so many choices, way more than I need. Have you ever tried to buy a salad dressing?   What used to be a simple process many years ago, dressing a salad is now bordering on stressful. We'll talk more about that, later. How about keeping your teeth clean? Again, many years ago the process was simple. Now it borders on a neurosis. More later. And that morning cup of coffee. Imagine how easy it was many years ago, when your request to the counter server was "coffee regular." Now there may be as many as 5 or 10 different components to a cup of coffee. It's ridiculous and stress inducing. My hope is that ...