This is a story about cake. You know that feeling that you get, the one where you walk into a café, somewhat knowing that you are wanting to have a bite of something sweet. Then you look at the cake display. A triple layered ganache cake with bitter chocolate shavings that look just too pretty to be eaten. Then that feeling settles in. That feeling of wanting to plunge your fork into its outer most corner of that triangle, the one pointing towards you saying eat me. That feeling where you know you will destroy the delicate beauty that is that chocolate slice. That conundrum. That inner conflict. That feeling of wanting to keep your cake in tact. That feeling of wanting to eat it too.
What I’ve described above should not come as a surprise to you, as life is pretty much a cake shop most of the time. You enter, you have a wide selection of cakes to choose from, and once you make a choice, you’re still stuck. Do you have your cake with a café latte? What if you’re already having is a cappuccino cake, will it go well with a coffee? Or should you order tea to compliment it? Well, in life, you have to make decisions that make you happy.
Does this cake fit your dietary requirements?
Sometimes we may need gluten free but love desserts which are heavier in flour, like cookies. It all depends on the type of cake. Sometimes what we want doesn’t suit our die-or-try-ry requirements. I believe we should take a bite to see if it causes us an allergic reaction, then we’ll know. In cases as such, its best we shouldn’t try to force it which will leave us with a bad experience.
How much do you really want that cake?
Is that momentary happiness worth the complications and trouble that follow? Will we end up with developing a bad allergy and forever shunning everything that will help us relate to it? What initially sounded like a good idea might not be worth the calories that ensue if it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
What’s the matter with your batter?
Ask yourself why you want that cake in the first place. Is it because of the experience of trying something new or is it because you’re told that that it is really delicious and that you must love it. Everyone is told that chocolate cake is the best, but what if you’re not a fan of chocolate cake? Some people prefer a lemon meringue or a strawberry pavlova. It’s alright to not go with public opinion. You might like chocolates but not fancy chocolate cakes. You get to choose what you like and what you don’t. It shouldn’t be someone else’s choice.
Ideas expire, baked goods expire.
We may think that a certain way of eating a cake is the norm or that everyone should love chocolate brownies. How about vegan brownies? It’s technically healthier for you but some would say they don’t taste the same. Maybe when you were younger you might have preferred a chocolate cake, but as you age, so do your taste buds. Some people graduate to enjoying a tiramisu more, as its less sweet and more delicate. Ideas expire and should be retired when the time comes. Do not feel pressured into conformity. Retire old ideas.
You should never let anyone dictate your happiness. Don’t let people tell you how you should eat your cake, but know this, you should always live with the choices that you’ve made. That’s the most responsible thing you could do for yourself. Remember this, at the end of the day, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Also, this is not a story about cake.