Ice Cream Theory of Love

Ice Cream Theory of Love

Once upon a time, there were two little boys. They both loved ice cream. Yet, they had different tastes. The first little boy loved maple walnut ice cream and the second little boy loved mint chocolate chip ice cream. Their preferences were quite strong and life long. To the first boy, maple walnut was the best tasting ice cream that there was. For the second little boy, mint chocolate chip ice cream was the best tasting ice cream that there ever was or ever could be.

In the Adirondack Mountains of New York State there is an ice-cream factory that makes the finest maple walnut ice cream in the world. The cream comes from cows that roam free in the foothills of the Adirondacks. These cows are fed wild grass and are taken care of by kindly farmers who love each cow uniquely. The walnuts are shipped from an award-winning orchard in California. Most importantly, the maple syrup is from a small family farm. Each tree is tapped and tended by the farmer and his wife. Each year, they skillfully mind and tap the trees carefully crafting each batch of syrup. When all of the ingredients arrive, they are expertly blended together by the ice cream crafters, sealed, and frozen with pride and love.

In the same factory, they also make the finest mint chocolate chip ice cream in the world. The mint oil is shipped in from Europe where the oldest and purest lineage of the mint plant is derived. The chocolate comes from Switzerland sometimes taking weeks to be delivered. Like the maple walnut ice cream, the cream for the mint chocolate chip ice cream is also from the healthiest, best-tended cows in the world. This mint chocolate chip ice cream is unsurpassed by any other mint chocolate chip ice cream.

The factory is so very mindful and artful with each batch of ice cream that there are times when one or another variety of ice cream is not available. This can be very sad for the little boys and girls hoping to get their favorite flavor.

Once, on one of the hottest and driest day of the summer, the first little boy went with his grandmother to the factory to get maple walnut ice cream. The server regretfully informed the first little boy that, alas, there was no maple walnut ice cream that day. She offered the first little boy mint chocolate chip ice cream. She explained that it was the finest in the world. The first little boy cringed, eyes downcast, shook his head “No. Thank you, no.”

Once, on another very hot day, the second little boy went to the factory with his uncle to get mint chocolate chip ice cream. The server regretfully told him that, alas, that day, there was only maple walnut ice cream. The boy shook his head, No,” eyes downcast, heart heavy, “Thank you, no.”

In late August, there was a very good day. A hot, dry Saturday. The first little boy and the second little boy both arrived at the factory.

“Yes!” their server said. “We do have your favorite ice cream. Yes, we have maple walnut and mint chocolate chip. We have them both today!”

Moments later, for all to see, were two of the happiest children ever. Each enjoying the finest ice creams-- exact matches, maple walnut for the first little boy and mint chocolate chip for the second little boy. Ahhh, life was good.

Wouldn’t it be funny if a maple walnut ice cream cone was a person? Wouldn’t it be even stranger if the maple walnut ice cream cone valued herself only by who wanted her? Worse, yet, she saw her value only in the value placed on her by the second little boy?

Her mother could tell her, “Sweet girl, you are made from the finest of cream, the most fabulous of walnuts, and the purest of maple syrups. Do not value yourself based on a little boy’s ability to appreciate you.”

Sadly, the little ice cream cone girl would not believe her mother because, you see, the second little boy did not like her. He did not want her.

Wouldn’t it be even sadder if the second little boy, discouraged that there was no mint chocolate chip ice cream one day settled for the maple walnut ice cream cone? He would be happy, perhaps, because this was in fact-- ice cream-- and it was summer.

But what a loss.

What a loss because as it turns out, when the first little boy showed up hours later, the maple walnut ice cream cone was already gone. Had he been able to appreciate her, he would have told everyone, “This is the finest ice-cream cone that there is and ever has been in all of the land. This is the finest of cream, award winning walnuts, and the purest and finest of maple syrup. I am the luckiest little boy in the world!”

Instead, the maple walnut ice cream cone was no longer there. She was gone and feeling sad because she was not seen or appreciated. She left with someone who settled.

The moral of the story, don’t settle for someone who can’t appreciate your qualities. They and you will be settling.

You should be seen by someone who looks into your eyes and says, “These are the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen!”

You should be heard by someone by someone who thinks, “What brilliance, what insights!”

You should be loved by someone who holds your hand and knows, “I am the luckiest person in the world, right here right now, I am the luckiest person in the world.”

And that- is my ice cream theory of love.

Namaste,

Catherine Cook-Cottone

The Yoga Bag