Lessons from a Peanut Butter Lover

Life is better with peanut butter. PB. It never disappoints and is the gift that keeps on giving. I’ve loved it for as long as I can remember.

My peanut butter journey started in childhood, and I’m pretty sure I had PB&J (on Wonder Bread, of course) every day for more than a decade. Growing up in the 60s, in the golden age of post-war industrialism, convenience foods were everywhere. A typical lunch was milk, a PB&J, a handful of chips, and maybe a Suzie Q or Twinkie for good measure. My love for peanut butter only deepened with the introduction of even more peanut butter treats: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Captain Crunch peanut butter cereal, and Kilwin’s chocolate peanut butter ice cream. But hands down, my all-time favorite was my grandmother’s Rice Krispies Peanut Butter Treats (I still haven’t been able to capture her recipe—if you have it, please drop it in the @Well Community FB group! My grandkids and I will be forever grateful).

Commitment to What You Love

Peanut butter taught me something important early on: life is about commitment. Skippy vs. Jif, crunchy vs. creamy—like Coke vs. Pepsi or Cubs vs. Sox, life requires choices and standing by them. Even when it’s tough. Some of my favorite people are Cubs fans. They know how to endure the rough seasons with loyalty and patience, always holding on to the belief that better days are ahead. For me, it’s been creamy Jif for most of my life, and nothing’s going to change that.

But as time went on, I started realizing that not all peanut butters are created equal. Many contain additives that aren’t exactly healthy, including my beloved Jif. And if I’m being honest, I consumed a lot of processed peanut butter-laced foods growing up. But here’s the thing—I didn’t have to give up peanut butter entirely. A healthy life is about finding a balance. So, I’ve found healthier ways to have my PB and eat it too: PB on Honeycrisp apples, in non-fat Greek yogurt, or in Banana Overnight Oats. And yes, I’ll enjoy an occasional graham cracker PB Porter in the fall. Life’s about enjoying the things you love but in moderation.

The Separation: Peanut Butter and Society

Recently, I’ve noticed a trend with the healthier peanut butters: the separation. You know the kind—oil at the top and peanuts at the bottom. To enjoy it, you have to stir vigorously to get it all to blend. It's annoying, but also kind of a metaphor for what’s going on in society today. Just like peanut butter, life’s good things seem to have started separating into distinct layers—sometimes with agitation.

Over the last decade, we’ve watched divisions grow sharper: conservative vs. liberal, pro-life vs. pro-choice, green energy vs. fossil fuels. The list goes on. It feels like when you open a new jar of peanut butter—you see the separation and it invites frustration, rather than harmony. Instead of looking for ways to blend together, society often seems stuck in a back-and-forth struggle.

A New Approach: Turning Things Around

But here’s where things get interesting. One of my favorite people recently introduced me to a fresh approach to peanut butter. Instead of stirring like mad, you simply turn the jar upside down and let it sit in the fridge for several hours. The oil slowly descends and mixes with the peanuts, without all the fuss. No agitation. Just smooth, effortless blending.

Now, imagine if we applied this to our world. What if, instead of clashing and forcing things to fit, we allowed ourselves a little time for a shift in perspective? What if we turned things upside down for a fresh look and let the differences between us gently blend together? What if we embraced the idea that unity isn’t automatic—it’s something we actively create, like stirring that jar of peanut butter?

Imagine a culture where we respectfully express our differences, where we challenge the status quo without the anger and division. What if we were able to truly stand together—each of us committed to our individual beliefs, yet united in our ability to love and respect one another?

A Simple Lesson in Unity

These days, as I turn each new jar of healthy peanut butter upside down, I’m reminded that unity and perspective are choices. Every day, I choose to envision a better world—a world where we blend our differences into something that works for everyone. It’s not always easy, but it’s possible. And sometimes, all it takes is a little shift in perspective—just like with that jar of peanut butter.

So the next time you grab a jar, remember: we all have the power to stir things up and make something better. Whether it’s in the jar, or in the world around us, the choice to blend our differences into something good is ours to make. It’s that simple.

❤️

KELLY