The Ego....as Dunkin sees it:
This morning I stood in line at Dunkin’ Donuts next to a man ordering a caramel swirl latte with .."extra whip".
I was ordering a jelly donut....and water..
We didn’t speak.
But spiritually? We were in combat.
I could feel it.
He glanced at my cup. I glanced at his.
Two grown adults pretending not to notice while absolutely noticing everything.
In my head, I was superior.
Water. Disciplined. Minimal. Pure.
In his head... I’m guessing.... I was probably sad. Or boring. Or one flat tire away from taking hostages.
Two egos in a pastry-scented arena, silently building entire psychological profiles over liquid plain..and bean flavored.
And the wild part?
Neither of us was thinking about coffee.
We were thinking about identity.
My cup said: I have control.
His cup said: I enjoy life.
Neither statement was true. Or false. Just projected.
Standing there, I realized how often I do this.. assign meaning where there is none.
Create hierarchy out of harmless preferences.
Turn donuts into doctrine.
The ego is fragile like that.
It needs comparison.
Without someone next to me, what is my water even proving?
He took a sip of his whipped masterpiece. I took a sip of my...nothing.
We both looked mildly satisfied....
And for a brief second, I wondered how peaceful life would be if I could just let a latte be a latte.. and a man be a man....without turning either into a mirror.
🥤
I was ordering a jelly donut....and water..
We didn’t speak.
But spiritually? We were in combat.
I could feel it.
He glanced at my cup. I glanced at his.
Two grown adults pretending not to notice while absolutely noticing everything.
In my head, I was superior.
Water. Disciplined. Minimal. Pure.
In his head... I’m guessing.... I was probably sad. Or boring. Or one flat tire away from taking hostages.
Two egos in a pastry-scented arena, silently building entire psychological profiles over liquid plain..and bean flavored.
And the wild part?
Neither of us was thinking about coffee.
We were thinking about identity.
My cup said: I have control.
His cup said: I enjoy life.
Neither statement was true. Or false. Just projected.
Standing there, I realized how often I do this.. assign meaning where there is none.
Create hierarchy out of harmless preferences.
Turn donuts into doctrine.
The ego is fragile like that.
It needs comparison.
Without someone next to me, what is my water even proving?
He took a sip of his whipped masterpiece. I took a sip of my...nothing.
We both looked mildly satisfied....
And for a brief second, I wondered how peaceful life would be if I could just let a latte be a latte.. and a man be a man....without turning either into a mirror.
🥤
