What I Learned From a Slice of Pizza

Back when I was working my coffeeshop gig, I had a mini-crisis over a slice of pizza. Normally, a slice of pizza is not that big a deal, but this particular slice of pizza appeared at the time when I had just given up extraneous carbs. Notwithstanding the mouth which remembers that gooey-cheesy, hot-crusty slice of deliciousness, it was actually gratuitous for what the rest of my body needed. My body never really needs a slice of pizza. That’s about what my mouth wants. And despite the fact that I had lost some weight just by eating cleaner, my mouth wanted that pizza.

But I knew that I had to resist. My inner dialogue started an angel vs. devil routine. My devil sought to get me comfortable with the idea. “Everyone here is eating pizza. Why shouldn’t you? It’s just one slice!” But my angel chimed in, “everyone here is fifteen years younger than you so their results won’t be your results. Besides, the choices that they make have nothing to do with the choices that you must make. You’ve asked yourself to do something out of the ordinary-to be extraordinary-so decisions that you make must be out of the ordinary. There is no secret to getting extraordinary results. In fact, like all results, they are directly connected to the choices that we make and the efforts that we put forth.”

The exasperated devil musters his last, hollow argument, yet he knows that I’m more likely to make a small concession rather than a big one. “You can have one measly slice. You don’t have to go overboard. In fact, you can throw your plate away after the first slice to ensure that you don’t go back for another. That’s reasonable, right?” “It’s not that big of a deal. Not everything needs to become a life-lesson,” the devil argued.

With that latter part, I had to agree with the devil. I did realize that choosing the pizza one time would not set me back for eternity and that it didn’t need to become a life-lesson. But, still, I had to ask myself, “Even if I eat this one slice what will it really do for me anyway? It’s unlikely that it’s going to be as tasty and delicious as I imagine. Well… maybe the first two bites will. But it’s not going to be so amazing that even if the first bite is heavenly, marginal utility won’t take over and diminish the rest of the slice. The novelty will be gone by the last bite. Even at it’s very best, it would be fleeting and evanescent.”

But is all of this really necessary to justify the consumption or refusal of a slice of pizza? Of course not. But we have to understand at some point that a slice of pizza is not just a slice of pizza. One cigarette is not just one cigarette. One drink (if you struggle with addiction) is not just one drink. It’s not about the pizza, it’s about the choice itself. It’s about choosing what good for you in the long run over what you want in the short run; the distant and uncertain reward of delayed gratification rather than giving in to the temptation and certainty of immediate pleasure.

It’s a dilemma unique to humans since only we have the capacity to simulate the future with enough accuracy to make the delay of gratification worthwhile. In many ways, this most unique of human traits is part of what makes us human. The great business philosopher, Jim Rohn, says, “When the promise is clear, the price is easy.” But I’m not so sure if that’s’ true. The price we must pay is giving up the delight of the moment. And that can still be pretty hart. Which is why most people will never do it.

We can all realize our dreams if given enough time. But the question, “what are we willing to give up in order to have them come true?” I was willing to give up that slice of pizza in order to adhere to my commitment of eating clean (and reap the reward of a slim physique that comes along with that). My question to you is the same: what are you willing to give up to get the stuff of your dreams?

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