Maybe This Time It Will Be Different

Some things change. Some things don’t. Sometimes we try to make the same change several times, and it doesn’t work.

Back in the days when budgets at work were a bit looser, we used to have food at large committee meetings. We frequently ordered sub sandwiches. The subs came with little bowls of black and green olives, marinated carrots, and various small bags of chips.  

I don’t like olives. I have never liked olives. I know this about myself. But every so often, I would be packing up the leftovers, and I would eat one of the black olives. As soon as I bit down on it, I would think “Barb, you KNOW you don’t like olives. Why did you just do that?”

Why did I do that? Well, black olives are pretty. I could eat dishes that had olives in them (like a taco dip) where the olive taste was diluted. I knew that other people liked, even loved, olives. So I thought maybe this time it would be different. Fortunately, my dislike of olives hasn’t had big ramifications in my life. It doesn’t matter to the vast majority of people whether I like olives or not.

I also do not like going out to loud, crowded bars. This has had a bigger effect in my life, since I have friends who do and who would like me to come with them. I went many times, hoping each time that it would be different. I finally had to gently ask them not to invite me. Although I love to spend time with them, I cannot deal with the atmosphere. That’s not going to change.

What do you think? Do you hate olives? 😉 Have you tried the same thing over and over hoping each time that it would be different? Have you finally decided you’re not going to change? Leave a comment!

Until next time, remember… We are all magnificent.