The Donut

We're about halfway through every Canadian's favourite time of the year: Tim Hortons' Roll Up the Rim to Win. 

"What are you at?"
"0-7," she says. "I never win anything."
"Oh man, I'm only at 0-4. I used to win a lot more than this!" 

Well folks, I'm at 1-4 now, since "WIN/GAGNEZ UN BEIGNE/DONUT" is looking at me as I type  this. 

You know, it's funny, I find when we talk about winning in Roll Up the Rim, (because seriously, who wins the $100 gift cards or the car?), we never really mention winning a donut. It got me thinking that I'm actually happier that I won a free donut instead of a free coffee. Although winning a free coffee means another shot at rolling up the rim, the donut is a nice treat. How often do you get a free donut? Not very often. 

So, what's wrong with a different kind of treat? Why would I feel a little disappointed initially that I didn't win a free coffee? Who am I to complain? I still won. 

I think the difference lies in our expectations. We expect to win the coffee and we think there's an extra benefit with another chance to win again. Plus, a coffee lasts longer than a donut (which will disappear in about 35 seconds, but coffee you can drag out a little longer).

So why do I feel more satisfied, after thinking about my empty winning coffee cup, with the donut? 

Maybe it's more satisfying to win the donut. Maybe it's more satisfying to encounter something we don't expect. Maybe, when we drop those expectations and are surprised by the donut, or a situation we don't anticipate, we become more open to enjoying the donut or situation. Maybe when we drop our expectations, we stop overthinking and planning and anticipating the impending second shot at winning. It's more about living in the moment. Eat the donut. Enjoy the donut, without downing the free coffee in a hurry to roll up the rim again. Letting go of the desire to plan and anticipate and of our expectations, whether these expectations are of a coffee cup, a situation, or a person, also allows you to let go of the little stresses that seem to plague our everyday lives. 

It's not really about getting another chance to win. It's about appreciating the win you have, and enjoying the donut. It's about not overthinking which cup you may get next. 

Maybe, just maybe, the donut is more satisfying than the coffee. (Who are we kidding, the donut is always more satisfying.) 

Felicia