In the past few years, it has become tradition to build a vision board with my friends. Together, we cut out pictures from magazines, organize them in a meaningful way, then glue them to poster board. This creation represents how we want our lives to look for the upcoming year. Our vision board can contain anything from pictures of the ocean if we want to swim more, pictures of books if we aim to be more intentional with our reading, or a numerical goal to represent a financial target. These pictures aren’t just scraps from an old magazine; they are our aspirations and goals put on a board to help us dream of it all coming together.
Every time we create these boards, I think about the previous year’s board. I think about which goals were met and which weren’t. More often than not, surprisingly, they have been met. When goals haven’t been met, it can cause pressure to rush the process. Growing up in a generation where social media puts everyone’s lives and progress on display, it’s easy to feel behind, even when you’re moving forward at a perfectly reasonable pace. I’m reminded that results, like love in the old Toto song, aren’t always on time. That doesn’t mean they aren’t coming. It simply means there’s space to consistently put in effort and trust that progress will unfold when it should. Whether that trust is in God, in the process, or in the impact of steady effort, the idea is the same: Things grow best when they are given care and time.
You can see this in small, everyday ways, like watering plants, using up the jam in the fridge, or learning a new skill. In each case, the best results come with patience and consistency, rather than rushing. Rushing often leads to mistakes or wasted effort, while small, thoughtful steps usually produce the best results. The same is true in the kitchen, where even a simple task like hard-boiling eggs requires patience and care to get right.
Some of the best results come from following a consistent method. For hard-boiled eggs, I start by placing them in a pot and covering them with water. I add a teaspoon of baking soda, which helps the egg whites separate from the shell by raising the pH of the water. Then I place the water over medium-high heat until it reaches a boil. Once it’s boiling, I cover the pot with a lid, turn off the heat and let the eggs sit for 12 minutes.
The next step is the most important: I immediately transfer the eggs into an ice bath — a bowl of water and ice — and let them cool for 15 minutes. This stops the cooking and makes the eggs much easier to peel. When I peel them, I gently crack the shells and remove them under water. Following these steps gives me eggs with smooth whites and perfectly set yolks almost every time.
This method works because it respects both the process and the science. It’s a small but clear reminder that patience and consistency often matter more than speed or force. The same principle applies outside the kitchen. Personally, I’ve dedicated January to practice and implement this philosophy. I want to focus on the steps I can take each day and trust that the outcomes will follow. I’m going to act intentionally, offer assistance whenever possible, and allow events to progress organically. Like hard-boiled eggs, life works best when you follow a process and give it the time it needs to succeed.
Pickle deviled eggs
Ingredients:
- 12 hard-boiled eggs, sliced in half lengthwise
- 1/2 cup chopped dill pickles
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons pickle brine
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Garnish: dried dill, sliced pickles
Directions:
In a food processor, add the egg yolks, chopped pickles, pickle brine, mayo and Dijon. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper and more pickle brine. Spoon or pipe the yolk filling into the egg white halves. Top with dried or fresh dill for garnish, along with pickle slices. Enjoy!
