The (not so) Sweet Life?

As part of this month’s “Personal Story Challenge”, this following story comes to us from Annie J:

When I was about ten, my family was on vacation in the Adirondacks. Dinners were served, family-style, in a large dining hall, and milk or water was the beverage offered.

One night, our last, my Dad gave my brother and I each a quarter to get a SODA from the machine, a huge treat for us.

Old Soda Machine

I deliberated and mused and agonized but finally announced my choice: not Coke, not Pepsi, not Fanta Grape, but…Sparkling Water!

My Dad politely said, “Annie, I don’t think you’ll like it…it’s just water with bubbles, it’s not sweet.”

But I insisted, and triumphantly carried my bottle back to our table.

Of course, I took one swallow, and regret washed over me…this was not what I’d hoped for!

My Dad, seeing my disappointment, simply said, “I’m proud of you for trying something new.”

No “I told you so.” No “You certainly wasted that money!” He just gave me another quarter, and said “Go try something else.”

A silly little story, but a memory that has come back to me again and again as I see my friends, my family, my students, myself, make choices that come from the heart but go awry…and the extreme gratitude I feel when my mistakes are met with compassion and understanding.

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3 Comments

  1. One of the things that is so meaningful about this story is how long you have remembered this “seemingly small incident” and the deep impression it has left in the mind.

    Serves as the eternal reminder to us as adults: We have a tremendous responsibility towards all children in creating an appropriate environment for their development.

    The little things we give no second thought remain in their mind their entire life…

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