ICE CREAM

 BY WALLACE CALEB BATES

Ice cream is not the healthiest choice. It is not part of any diet plan or productivity hack. But every so often, it is precisely what I need.

My order: a Royal Reese’s Brownie Blizzard from Dairy Queen with extra peanut butter. It is rich, heavy, and entirely over the top. It is also joyful, reminding me I am allowed to enjoy something simply because I love it.

In a world that constantly encourages discipline, control, and self-denial, there is quiet power in choosing to indulge. Life is not meant to be measured only in calories or checklists. It is also meant to be tasted.

Let the dessert be a reminder: not everything that brings joy needs to be justified.

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PROTECT AND DEFEND

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