“If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud.” -Emile Zola
And Living Out Loud is what I’ve done! Happy WORK IT OUT WEDNESDAY!
This post is a spicier/more flavorful one… because sometimes we DO need to turn up the HEAT!!!
As a Morselist, promoting Healthy Morsels at Food Fairs and Store Demos, I’ve met the gamut of people: seeking out free samples, new products, education and great story fodder.
Now, I know I’m supposed to stay positive and sunny and I will probably offend some people, but COME ON! Everyone’s got a breaking point, even though my sister calls me GUMBY!
First the GOOD:
One incredible Morsel Taster, was a woman who went into the health field after she watched her Dad suffer and pass from Diabetes. Meeting people who “Get” what I’m doing makes it 100% worthwhile.
Especially the ones who buy 3-6 dozen!! 🙂
The NOT SO GOOD:
Then there was “Gimme a Cookie!” just looking for freebies of COOKIES and CLUELESS! told me he doesn’t NEED to watch his sugar and I nodded, wondering,
“You sure about that, Mr. Hot dog on a stick?!”
Another man, introduced himself as a PSYCHIC, slurping a BIG GULP from 7-11, told me he was diabetic & suffered from heart disease but couldn’t buy my morsels because “they would be too addicting.”
Mr. Psychic Big Gulp proceeded to “psychically read me” and told me my kidneys were “too yang” and that I needed to “ get Grass-Fed Beef Liver and blend it into a puree and drink for a week.”
Gagging, I responded, “that’s repulsive! Thank you very much, my kidneys will happily remain in YANG!”
Later, a greasy-haired woman with food and gunk in her teeth, wanted to know, “How come you don’t add sugar and salt to your cookies?” after I told her, “I created these MORSELS for my Dad, who CAN’T eat sugar and salt. However, there are plenty of treats/cookies/pastries out there that have salt, sugar, butter, chemicals, crap, etc…”
She continued to grab samples asking, “How come you don’t make savory snacks with fat and crap?”
I wanted to wash her hair.
Eventually, another GOOD person meandered over to my table and began to praise the fact that I do NOT use sweeteners or salt and asked to sample, budging into G.H.’s space, forcing G.H. to move on…
The GOOD woman was EXTRA GOOD and we had a passionate conversation about how addicting sugar and salt can be and how we’ve watched our loved ones suffer from it making us create lifestyle changes and feeling 100% better because of it.
Then a BIG BAD one appeared, in a hurry, on her cell phone:
BB: WHAT HAVE YOU GOT FOR ME?!
I smiled through tensed teeth, as I do, when people annoy me,
MM: These are Mac-n-Mo’s Morsels.
BB: WHAT THE HELL IS A MAC-N-MO?!
MM: Well, Mac is my Dad and I’m Mo.
BB: SO…WHAT IS IT??!!
She continued an entirely different conversation on her cell phone.
MM: They’re a healthy Gluten-Free/Vegan/NO Salt, 0-1g Sug…
And before I could finish, she grabbed the glass dome lid OFF my sample pedestal display, grabbing ALL of my Morsel Samples, screaming, “TOO MUCH F*?#@NG TALKING!”
And stormed off. Now, this one took the cake or morsel, literally!
My heart actually began to race, blood boil and I went to the Store Manager.
But once I got to her, I thought to myself, What am I going to do? Tell on a customer? Am I in kindergarten?
So, I took a breath, not too deep and walked back to my Demo Table and decided it was time for this Morselist to pack up her toys and go home.
Day is done. Gone the sun (or I should say, gone is my NOT so sunny disposition)
And just as I was putting my Mailing List into my Morsel Bag, a Beautiful Family approached…
BF: WE LOVE Mac-n-Mo’s!
I was taken aback.
MM: You know Mac-n-Mo’s?
BF: Yes, our kids LOVE the Chocolate Chip and my husband & I love the Pumpkin Cranberry & we love that there’s nothing bad in them.
My heart took another beat, but this time it was a good/fluttering kind.
MM: How did you hear about them?
BF: We saw them here in the store about a month ago and my kids liked the logo & picked them up. When I read the story & saw the Nutritional Info, I decided to give them a try.”
MM: Oh, my gosh, you just made my day…no, my week! Maybe even my month. This makes me VERY happy! I’m Mo, (I reached out my plastic gloved Right Hand) and well, I just ran out of samples. Or I should say, my samples just ran out on me! It’s SOOOOO nice to meet you!
The Mom gave me a hug, thanking me for making a treat that she feels good about giving to her kids and one that she can eat, too.
Now, I really could go home, NOT in a huff, but feeling extra MORSELICIOUS!!!!
YES, it’s the little things!
Lol! I think you met my entire family…except for the cow on the cell phone, I don’t know her.
Way to finish the day (and the post) with the positives. One of the consistently great things about this blog.
Thanks so much, Tim!
Thanks, gals!
Love, love your posts!! Always fantastic!!! xoxo
These freebie-sniffing pigs should banned from putting their snouts anywhere near a Morsel. Their artery-clogged, sugar-loaded obese masses of fat and grease do not deserve the enjoyment and benefits of the healthy and delicious treats that Maura lovingly bakes.
HYSTERICAL, Lee!!!
OMG you guys are cracking me up!!! I LOVE YOU all!
hey, my husband IS mr. hot dog on a stick – but not so rude. it’s impossible to teach that type that eating better is better for EVERYbody and the planet. go figure. some just don’t give a shit and would rather be fat and miserable.
as for little miss cell phone – you should not have spoken to her while she was on her cellphone – for all you know, it could have been turned off. she was just plain RUDE and we don’t need to encourage THAT behavior.
Ha ha! You crack me up, Amy!
Thanks for your comments!
Love them!
Great stories!
Your effort to get out there will pay off/is paying off big, congratulations on your success.
Thanks so much, Tim!!!
loved this post today! thanks for sharing. just remember when you encounter the ones that don’t “get” what you are doing, they are not your customer. some might learn if they are open to it, but if not, let them move along. there are plenty of customers who will get it, and appreciate it. that said, i think it is high time i ordered some of these morsels! thanks for the gentle nudge. : )
Thanks so much, Jill!
I love that my “gentle” nudge is working! 🙂
The thing to remember is you CAN’T fight crazy! Cherish the good ones, as rare they are, because they are the reason to continue with your brilliant quest.
Great quote, Seana and YES,
I MUST remember that!
Thank you!!
I loved the article! It’s amazing how inconsiderate people can be.
“I wanted to wash her hair”, my favorite part. I hope to try some of these morsels soon!
Jefrey, you just made me laugh out loud!!!
Would LOVE you to try my morsels soon & I WANT your feedback!!
LOL! You made me laugh this morning Maura. Thank you. Although I know it wasn’t funny to you at the time. By the way my family loves your morsels as well. 🙂
Thanks, Adriana!
I’m happy I made you laugh & I’m soooo happy
your family loves my morsels!!!
Awwww. That was funny. It is lovely though when you feel downtrodden by all the rudeness an inconsiderate people in the world, and then someone shows up that makes you smile.
And also, someone that doesn’t pretend to be immune to the effects of a bad diet.
Thanks, Alicia!!!
I love your take on the effects of a bad diet…
that made me smile!
It’s no wonder why our city/county/state governance’s need to regulate to some extent! Many people just DON’T GET IT! Thanks for sharing Mo.
Thanks, Jim!
Too true!
LOL! Very funny post! I love the “Mr. Hot dog on a Stick.” I can completely picture him. It’s nice hearing that, even though there can be some bad out there, there is also a lot of good to balance everything out . . . something we can all try to keep in mind during our everyday routines full of good/bad; Yin/Yang, etc.
If you ever see “Mr. Hot dog on a stick” again, maybe you could take some morsels out and put them on a skewer and hand it to him . . .Morsels on a stick – a healthy/tasty alternative. Maybe a new trend?!?
Ha ha! I love the Morsels on a stick!
Thanks for the idea!
Maybe we’ll be at the County Fair next year!
🙂
This is GREAT, Maura! I love your thoughts, your humor — everything!!!
Thanks so much, Lauren!
I can really relate! I have worked with the public for over 20 years and I am constantly amazed how people behave and then someone comes along to restore your faith in humanity. Great post!!
Thank you, Heather!
I’d love to hear some of your stories, too!