How many of us have midnight cravings?
You wake up in the middle of the night searching for something, anything to eat.
We rampage through the fridge, settle with a bowl of ice cream or some leftovers.
I get food cravings in the middle of the day, when I am happily sitting and doing my work. What do I do? Like any normal human I go on order it.
Last month, I had an ice cream craving, not in the middle of the work in the city, but in a place where there’s still no proper network, and certainly no delivery service. I was not my usual self, I usually get what I want when I want it, this is the side effect of the all the automation and technology we developed.
As a human habituated with satisfying wants immediately, I learned I have very little patience, and it only takes non availability of a scoop of ice cream to ruin my day. I missed Instant gratification when I lived there.
I thought I will forget it the other day,but my love for ice cream is too much to forget it. When I came back to the city after a week of missing my ice cream. I thought now I can have it,just book an uber,get on it, go to the place, and have it. That simple.
But my inner monologue went this way
Me to Me: “Everything is a learning opportunity, don’t just go on and eat it. Wait for it. Wait for a month.”
Me: “That’s too much, I can’t wait for a month.”
Me to Me: “Yes, You can!” “Yes, You will!!”
I counted days, but universe has this very sadistic sense of humor, every where I went I found something related to ice cream and chocolate, it’s like everywhere I look I found ice cream. Now I sound like I am in a romcom and ice cream’s my love.
I successfully patiently waited for my month to finish, and now when the day comes my mind says the exact opposite of what I want to hear.
Me to Me: “Don’t just go on the uber. WALK!”
Me: “Why are you making me do it?”
Me to Me: “ Because ……….Just Walk!”
So like always my other me won the argument and I started walking.
I picked the wrong time to walk. It was just after I finished my lunch and the sun was on the “My hottest day ever” phase. I was rethinking my choices walking through the traffics and crowded road. After so much of contemplating my decisions I have arrived at my sweet destination.
The moment came when I went straight to the man behind the counter, paid for my ice cream, waited for it to be mine.
And How do I feel now? I was too busy eating the ice cream that I forgot to observe how I felt when I took the first lick. Yes! I had it in a cone.
I don’t have a picture. Too busy eating it.
After finishing it like an animal rampaging through the hunt, I was at peace with myself. I burst in a loud laugh in the middle of the shop so hard that now I looked like a crazy cat lady, I don’t know why I felt happy. But I was happy, even elated. I was so happy to have a scoop of chocolate ice cream after a month of waiting for it, and walking 1.6 km one way trip.
What did I learn?
Wait for what you want. The taste will be even sweeter.
Everything in life requires patience and consistency, I waited day after day patiently never lost my love for ice cream, I was consistent with my craving.
Now I apply this whenever I get a chance, I don’t have splurges, I don’t have cravings.
This helped me save more and spend on things I really need.
As always make sure you recommend this post if you liked it, and have a great day. ???
Originally published at medium.com