It’s amazing how much you want something when you can’t have it. Today seemed ridiculously riddled with things that I would love to eat. Chocolate chip cookies, which are one of my favorite things were everywhere today. At work, someone had put Nate’s Chocolate Chip Cookies on the counter, up for grabs. It wasn’t just a single bag, it was three full bags. I was also keenly aware of how few people were there because of the heightened COVID numbers. I can say with all honesty, I did not partake. Before anyone mentions that I shouldn’t try adopt a diet that I can’t maintain, I want to make clear, there are two things at play. I am dieting for sure, but I am also trying to win the challenge. That requires a little more sacrifice. I think it will be good to know that this phase does have an ending. I just have to be careful when its over.

Back to the cookies, then I came home and found, guess what, Nate’s cookies in my pantry that my wife bought me before I started the challenge that the kids were told not to eat, because they were mine. Now, I fully intended to eat all of them before the challenge, but somehow didn’t complete that challenge. There I was standing in the pantry, door closed, staring at those cookies. It’s been a long time since I have had my personal integrity challenged. But alas, I exited the pantry and pleased for them to be eaten. 

You’d think that the universe was done conspiring, but nope. Tonight, I took Sam to an activity at church. They discussed goals and did planning for other activities around those goal. At that sweet loving child, when I picked him up, hopped in the car and held out a Costco Chocolate Chunk cookie, saying, “Dad, I brought you a cookie.” Now, it would be bad form to decline such a thoughtful gift and I am sure no one would have faulted me. But, this, this was one of those teaching moments, an opportunity to teach my son, about personal commitments and following through. Of course, it came out, “You’re killing me smalls!” Which left the boy in bewilderment, and myself having wasted a perfectly delivered movie quote.

I know this may all seem so trivial, there are many more pressing issues that people and the world are facing, but it made me think about how we make things, “hard things” when they really they are just things. Sometimes hard or easy, is just how we think about it, sometimes.

Also, did you know that the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street is named Sid?