This post is presented in partnership with Char-Broil. Though I have been compensated, my words and thoughts are my own. If you are nice, I might share some of the grilled food. Enjoy.
I ended the summer the same way that I began the summer: at my Char-Broil TRU-Infrared gas grill. The meal isn’t the important part here, but, in case you are interested, it was also the same: a steak made even juicer thanks to my Char-Broil grill, along with a baked potato.
Yes, I was grilling for myself. Now before you go judging me, you have to understand that I am the only one in the house who actually eats steak. So it is not a case of me neglecting my family; it is more the case of different preferences.
One of the charms of Char-Broil TRU-Infrared gas grills is that they are known for being “forgiving grills”. That illustrates the manner in which the grill can withstand the operator blunders that are bound to happen. And with its patented emitter plate, it even eliminates those spontaneous flare-ups that can ruin your day.
Perhaps I need to learn from my grill.
The end-of-school-year grilling and beginning-of-the-school-year grilling are intentional. It is a short isolated time that I can sit and reflect. The grill is like a free backyard retreat. The doors are always open and no pre-registration is needed.
At the end of the year, I thought about what I had accomplished the previous school year and what I wanted to do differently.
The beginning-of-the-year grilling is used to set goals and aspirations for the year. And it isn’t limited to the classroom. Goals as a dad, as a husband, as a son, brother, friend, etc. It’s a quiet time. A peaceful period.
One of the things that I “grilled” myself about? Forgiving and moving on. Specifically, forgiving myself when I make mistakes. I have a habit of bottling things in and dwelling on mistakes. This does not mean that I intend to bottle them or ignore them, but I will instead learn to take notes and move on.
Self-care was also a topic of my internal dialogue at the grill. One of the best ways to be more forgiving of me? To take better care of myself. That might mean choosing more sleep, better food, or quiet time alone (like at the grill) to allow me to grow and recover. The school year is long and full of stressors, but it is also full of opportunities. I can’t be good if I’m not good to myself.
So I stood and allowed my thoughts to marinate as the grill allowed my marinated steaks to cook while maintaining their juiciness–another great perk of Char-Broil TRU-Infrared grills. This was my last step of preparation.
Many people will tell you that there is a grilling season. Traditionally, it starts around Memorial Day and “ends” around Labor Day.
I say that is for amateurs. You would be missing (or leaving out) any sort of camping trips, football tailgating, grilling before (or after) concerts, Halloween grilling, etc.
My grill operates 365 days a year. I may not use it every day, but it is there if I need it. And while I may use it for some big events, I realize that I may also need it as a quick retreat to recoup. The school year is long, and just like my grill, I need to be more forgiving.
