Delicious Enlightenment

 

You never know where magic is going to come from in this wonderful world. Sometimes it could even come at a trip to the store for a treat. 

Come one, come all, and hear the story about a boy and his ice cream. 

 

This is not just any sort of ice cream. This is the Jolly Llama brand of diary-free, gluten-free, coconut cream, caramel chocolate chip cones. You know the type with the chocolate chunk at the bottom of the pyramid cone? 

 

This delightful delight was first encountered by this boy – OK, it was me – about two years ago when my wife introduced it to me. I was transfixed by the flavor and higher purpose. 

 

And OK, maybe I’m not a boy, but the giddiness and joy I feel when I treat myself to such a treat, is timeless and boundless. How delicious could enlightenment get?

 

You think I exaggerate? 

 

Just ask my wife when these are OUT of stock at the local store, and when we discover that they are indeed IN stock. It can go from extreme disappointment to utter glee. And let me tell you, it’s not routinely the case that the glee comes. These days, the stores are rarely stocking these llamas. Oh sure, the vanilla ones or the pink or light brown or orange ones may be in the freezer section, but rarely do we get the taste of enlightenment, chocolate flavored. 

 

We happen to know the manager of a small deli in Mission Valley who would put in special orders for us, and it was normally hit and miss. “They are out of stock for two weeks. Come back next Saturday.” 

 

Because of my intense desire for enlightenment, my mind stays focused on the goal. It’s almost like a meditation; my mind gets so laser-beam. The result is we have found one store in the La Mesa area (NO, I will not tell you which one) that regularly carries this ice cream. We have gone a bit out of our way on occasion to travel to this store. 

 

It was on the last visit where the true magic happened. And I believe there is a great lesson in it for me … and for others if they are interested.

 

While my wife started in on other shopping, I approached the store entrance and bolted back to the freezer section where I knew they held the ice cream. I was filming the occasion to share with a friend interested in eating healthier desserts. I was in a great mood for various reasons, one to do with the treat but also because of other good stuff going on in my life. As I rushed up to the section of the freezer, I built up the suspense for my friend saying, “Here it comes….”  Just as I came to the row where the Jolly Llamas reside, I saw clearly: they are out of stock! An empty shelf! 

 

I kept the video rolling, and just finished it off with “dammit!” 

See HERE 

 

Dismayed but not destroyed, I kept my good mood intact. Sometimes in the past when I got upset about “missing out,” I went to a low place with thoughts such as:

• “Oh no, I’m too late.”
• “I knew it!” 
• “I waited too long and now I’ve made a big mistake.”
• “What a bummer!” 

Well, it may be because I was in such a good mood (and that it was merely a dessert) that the past distressing thoughts didn’t arrive too powerfully in my mind. I stayed upbeat and continued on my way to find Jennifer in the store. As I let her in on the bad news, just then, a young lady worker Ashlin turned the corner. For some reason, in a happy place, I chose to interact and have some lighthearted banter with her. In an overly dramatic fashion, I let her in on the lack of Jolly Llamas in the freezer. To which, she replied, “Let me see what I can do.”

What? Could it be? Could there be a second chance at delicious enlightenment? 

 

It only took her a couple minutes to return from another part of the store and reveal a box of dozens of chocolate Jolly Llamas. 

 

Wow. My first response was of gratitude and happiness. (That’s on video too.) 

 

Next I considered this very real reality: If I would have spiraled into some negative subconscious spin from the past about being “too late,” I would not have been open to seeing this young lady approach with another opportunity. If I would have been defeated, I would not have had the wherewithal to see the victory staring at me in the face. 

 

Perhaps that’s how it happens many times in our benevolent universe. 

 

The issue arises along with a solution. And it’s up to us to stay in the right mind to be able to notice it, and then act on it. 

 

These ice creams proved to be enlightening indeed.