What Do You Really Want?

 

This is a question that I come back to, time and time and time again.

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about ice cream, particularly anything from Dairy Queen with hot fudge on it. 

The last time I remember being at Dairy Queen was about 20 years ago with a couple of friends, when we used DQ as a reward for being successful on our diet.

The menu item of choice for me, 20 years ago, was a Peanut Buster Parfait, and I remember purchasing it, eating it, and really, really enjoying it.

So last week, I asked myself, “What do you really, really want?”  I had been planning on going for a long run in the evening, but the temperature and humidity never dropped enough for me to feel safe (I’m not a big fan of heat stroke), and so instead of my long run, I decided to do some research into Dairy Queen, Peanut Buster Parfaits, chocolate, ice cream, pleasure, and my desires.

At 7 pm in the evening, the time I had originally planned to run 8 miles, I instead headed out the door to my local Dairy Queen.  I walked in, confirmed with young man at the register that DQ does, in fact, still make Peanut Buster Parfaits.  

I ordered one, and began to eat it. 

And as I was eating it, I also analyzed it--and my response to it.  Was it as good as I remembered?  Did I like the chocolate?  Were the peanuts fresh and salty?  Was the ice cream delicious and satisfying?  

And about three bites into it, I made some important discoveries into what brings me pleasure.  First and foremost, I discovered that I like really excellent chocolate.  Dark, musky, deep chocolate.  And lots and lots of it.  While the DQ hot fudge was delicious, it wasn’t quite what I had in mind--nor was there enough of it to suit me.  And while the peanuts added a certain crunchy goodness to the confection, I discovered that I would have preferred saltier, “roastier” (I know it’s not a word!) nuts.  And while contemplating the ice cream, and I realized that, while soft serve certainly does have its fine points, what I really like is hard, cold ice cream with a high fat content!   

My little research trip to Dairy Queen a few days ago taught me a few things about loving myself and my body.  It taught me that my tastes have changed over the decades.  It taught me that I still love ice cream but prefer a different kind.  It taught me that I still adore chocolate but require darker, richer fudge.  It taught me that I like really salty, deeply roasted peanuts.  And it taught me that I like lots and lots of fat in my ice cream.

If you were going to do a little research into what makes you happy, what you really want, and what brings you pleasure, what would you research?  I’d love to hear yourresults!

E-mail me at nannerl123@yahoo.com.

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