The most unexpected exchange happened to me the other day.
I had just concluded a very successful plant shopping experience! My cart overflowed with color and possibility and discounts. True heaven for any gardener. PLUS I didn’t even have to go into the mega store to pay!
Just got better and better.
No lines and the cashier awaited me with one question…
“Coke or Pepsi?”
What? I’m in the garden department and he asks me about soft drinks.
And the story continues.
Let’s call my cashier Harvey.
As he began gently scanning my posies I got curious about his question to me.
First I answered. “Neither.”
I told him I drank sugar free organic carbonated drinks and he smiled.
“Actually I haven’t tasted either of those other soft drinks in 4 decades. (I’m dating myself)
Harvey went on to explain he had a customer pass through his garden shop check out earlier with both Coke and Pepsi products. She explained to him that one of her kids refused to drink Coke products so she was forced to buy both.
So he got curious about people’s preferences in this department.
We spoke briefly on the topic of sugar addictions (sugar’s addiction is rated up there with heroin) and how in our current worldview- Coke or Pepsi were advertised and considered an excellent beverage for folks of all ages.
I smiled as I looked down at my beautiful collection of posies possibilities- that we all have various versions of addictions- mine was brilliantly colored flowers!
As I was packing up to leave I asked him which he drank- Coke or Pepsi?
He smiled sheepishly and said he drank what his girlfriend drank- Pepsi products. He looked down and said it was just easier . He had already learned to pick his battles in his relationships. Wise man!
I thanked him for an enlightening experience and walked away smiling.
There were many personal takeaways from this exchange…like-
The power of advertising- the deeper addiction to substances, even those called food- my own appreciation for what it took for me to wean myself off of sugar…
The really big takeaway was more about the choices we make or don’t make.
Harvey chose to poison his body with Pepsi (Coke is equally harmful) to keep peace in his love relationship.
He was in his early 20’s so I’m figuring he felt fairly safe.
He spoke of health and his sugar addiction.
The bigger question for me was -How often and in how many ways do each of us choose the path of avoidance? The path of ‘just don’t want to rock the boat’?
Even if our personal price is a shortened life span and possibly the creation of health complications because we just didn’t want to say NO?
I appreciated Harvey and his curiosity and his bravery.
My question for you is- just how brave are YOU?
