Blog # 91. The Buffet of Life

Ever notice how people approach a buffet? One piles on a little of everything, tasting her way across the table. Another heads straight for dessert — no apologies, just joy. And then there’s the one who knows exactly what she loves, fills her plate once, and walks away deeply satisfied.

Auntie Mame knew that Life is a Banquet!

We are those people, not just at the buffet but in life. Some of us are still sampling everything — new ideas, projects, passions. Some of us have realized that life’s too short to skip the good stuff. And some have learned the quiet power of enough.

Let’s consider those bellying up to the buffet:

• The Sampler Queen. Tries everything, enjoys abundance, and sees the buffet (life!) as a chance to experience it all. She’s curious, open, and unapologetic about seconds. But she can get overwhelmed — trying a bit of everything but never settling in to savor anything fully. Her plate is full, but her spirit feels scattered.

• The Dessert-First Rebel. Unapologetically follows pleasure and refuses the script that says what should come first or last. She’s bold, a little mischievous, and unconcerned with convention. But she might burn hot and fast — delighting in impulse but sometimes missing the nourishment that keeps her going for the long haul.

• The Satisfied Sage. Knows what she loves, takes exactly that, and savors it without guilt. She’s selective, discerning, and confident in her choices. But she can become too comfortable — so sure of what she loves that she forgets how good it feels to taste something new.

All too often, we can forget that the buffet is ours. We move through it like someone’s watching, judging what we take, how much we enjoy, or whether we “should” go back for seconds. Aging has a way of teaching us that permission is an inside job. Nobody’s keeping score on our portions of joy.

The truth is, each archetype carries a kind of wisdom. The Sampler Queen reminds us to stay curious. The Dessert-First Rebel reminds us to keep our spark alive. The Satisfied Sage reminds us that discernment is its own kind of freedom. The sweet spot, and you knew this was coming, is balance. Knowing when to explore, when to indulge, and when to rest in contentment.

So ask yourself: how are you approaching your buffet today? Are you sampling widely, indulging boldly, or savoring what you know you love? There’s no wrong plate — only the ones left half-empty because we were afraid to fill them.

Maybe this season calls for more tasting, or a little rebellion, or the simple grace of enough. Just remember: the buffet of life is open, the choices are yours, and the only real mistake is walking away hungry.

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