As the air turns cooler and crisper, and the moisture-laden leaves fall to hug the earth, I often find myself remembering a warmer day—a day when the wind felt like a hug and the leaves sang their songs from their spots in the trees. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on one of those days in October when I learned an important lesson: fight for that cup of ice cream, even if voices around you say it’s not worth it.
Okay, more context: it was towards the end of the lunch period at the restaurant, and I was finishing up my food. Looking up, I saw a lady dart through the hallway leading to the exit, carrying what appeared to be a cup of ice cream and a spoon. Was I seeing things? Confused, I did a double-take before running after her into the parking lot.
In a louder-than-usual voice—what most people would call normal, but felt a little out of place—I called, “Excuse me, ma’am! You can’t take that!”
She turned, scowling, and spat, “Fine, I didn’t even want the ice cream anyway.” Puzzled by this response, I stammered out, “Okay, well…I can bring the cup and spoon back for you!”
“No,” she snapped, “I can return it myself.” She turned and stormed back to the restaurant.
I stood there, completely at a loss. What had just happened?
At first, I couldn’t help but feel amused. Welcome to the “real world,” right? You start reacting to extraordinary moments like this with amusement—because why not? It’s just another spice in the mix of life, one you might as well enjoy before the spice rack overflows with the unpredictability of the world.
But as the day went on, my thoughts shifted. Could I have done something differently to ease her anger? Was my tone too harsh? But that didn’t make sense. I replayed the scene over and over in my head, and I was pretty sure I hadn’t been anything but calm when I called out to her.
So, after thinking it through, I realized there was probably nothing I could’ve said to change her reaction and to have a more respectful conversation. Maybe I could’ve just let her take the cup and spoon, but then, if we let every customer walk out with a cup of ice cream and a spoon, would the restaurant even have any left? And here lies the lesson: Sometimes, you have to stand your ground, even if it feels a little awkward. But the thing is, you can’t control how other people react—only how you handle it. And honestly, taking a step back, being patient, and reflecting on the situation helps you see it more clearly, so you don’t get stuck in frustration or second-guessing yourself.
In the words of actor David Oyelowo: “You know what’s right. You know what’s wrong. And if you know what’s right, and you do it, you can go to bed at night with a clear conscience.”