Yesterday as I was trying to open a can of dog food as my dog was anxiously doing his “feed me” dance my can opener would barely get the can opened. So after work I went to buy a replacement so I would not have to endure not being able to feed him quickly when I arrived at home.

The product I selected operates differently than can openers I have used previously. The previous can openers cut through the top of the can. You know you are done when the lid is totally separated from the sides of the can. The new can opener, pictured above, attaches to the top of the can, and cuts from the side. There is a small plier tool built in that you have to use to lift the lid of the can off when you are done.

Imagine me in my 50’s having to read the instructions to use a can opener. Imagine my dog wondering why I am reading instead of opening his food. The evening was roughly as stressful as the morning.

Enter today, having mastered the skills of the new can opener I was able to quickly open his food and get it in his food bowl. He scarfed the food down, which is typical for him, and then we launched into “cuddle time”.

Even simple things can be a crisis when someone (human or animal) is exerting pressure on you to hurry when you are already working at top speed. I kept my cool, used logic, and took action as soon as I could to get a new product. I wish every problem I faced in life was as easy as learning how to work a new can opener.