Hello world!
I’m back! Hehe.
A few days ago, I heard some news about my neighbor. She’s a young girl, an eleventh-grade high school student. Qodarullah, she’s currently in the hospital because of inflamed tonsils that required a minor surgery. She’s still recovering now. I sincerely hope she gets well soon and can return to her daily activities like usual. :)
Hearing about her condition made me pause for a moment. It triggered something in my mind. Not panic. Not fear exactly. Just… reflection.
You see, I have this habit of living paradoxically. 😅 I often want something, but at the same time I question it. I desire it… but I choose not to take it. And strangely enough, this paradox also applies to something as simple as food.
To be honest, some people might think my life is boring. Every day I clean the house, work, study online, scroll through social media for entertainment or to find new opportunities. Almost 24 hours a day, I’m at home. And yes, every day I eat home-cooked meals prepared either by me or my mother like rice, vegetables, side dishes that change depending on what we feel like cooking. Alhamdulillah, in my family no one is a picky eater, so almost every dish is always finished. Hehe.
Sometimes I wonder… is this lifestyle boring? Or is it actually the reason we stay healthy?
My parents love traditional village-style food such as steamed sweet potatoes, cassava, sticky rice. Simple food. Naturally sweet. No excessive seasoning. They genuinely enjoy it.
Meanwhile, here I am with very much Gen Z energy who's loving savory, extremely spicy, and of course crunchy food. The kind of snacks that make your tongue tingle and your eyes water but somehow make you happy.
So where’s the problem?
Well, sometimes when I crave something, my desire is very clear: I want spicy crackers. The kind with maximum chili level. The kind that makes your mood instantly go up because of the sensation. There’s something addictive about that fiery crunch.
But then I remember my neighbor.
When I was in high school, around 10 to 12 years ago, the snacks we bought were simple. Soto, rice meals, cilok, iced drinks. Nothing too extreme. But now? Oh, the snack world has evolved. There’s seblak, cimol, ultra-spicy noodles, level 10, level 20, “are you brave enough?” type of snacks. Everything is spicy, bold, dramatic.
I even read a journal discussing tonsillitis, and it mentioned that one of the contributing factors can be frequent consumption of overly spicy, oily, or unhygienic street food. It irritates the throat and can trigger inflammation, especially if consumed regularly without balance.
That made me think.
As I’m getting closer to my 30s (oh no… 🤭😆), I can’t just eat carelessly like I used to. My body isn’t a teenager anymore. Recovery takes longer. Consequences feel heavier.
So there I am, standing between desire and decision.
On one side: spicy crackers. Immediate satisfaction. Mood booster. Fun.
On the other side: home-cooked vegetables. Balanced nutrition. Stable health. Long-term benefit.
It sounds dramatic when written like that, but this tiny daily battle actually reflects something much bigger about life.
Why is it that the tastiest things often feel unhealthy? Compare spicy crackers with vegetables. The taste difference is obvious. Crackers are loud, exciting, addictive. Vegetables are calm, subtle, sometimes even “boring.” Yet vegetables strengthen immunity. They nourish quietly.
Sometimes I think that’s how life works too.
The things that scream the loudest aren’t always the best for us. The things that feel exciting and intense might carry hidden risks. Meanwhile, the steady, simple, routine choices though not thrilling but build a strong foundation over time.
I’m not saying spicy snacks are evil. Not at all. Life is meant to be enjoyed. But what I’m learning is the importance of awareness.
Before I follow a craving, I pause and ask myself:
- What are the risks?
- What are the consequences?
- Is this just a temporary desire, or is it worth the impact?
If I choose the spicy crackers, my desire is fulfilled. But maybe my stomach suffers. Maybe my throat gets irritated. Maybe my health slowly declines if it becomes a habit.
If I choose home-cooked food, it may not feel “challenging” or thrilling. But my body stays strong. My immunity stays stable. I wake up feeling light instead of uncomfortable.
And honestly? That’s adulthood in a nutshell.
It’s not about never wanting something unhealthy. It’s about having the discipline to sometimes say, “I desire it… but I choose not to.”
There’s a quiet power in that sentence.
We often think freedom means doing whatever we want. But real freedom might actually be the ability to control what we want. To not be controlled by impulse. To not be dragged by temporary cravings.
Living mostly at home, eating simple food, repeating routines might look boring from the outside. But maybe boring is peaceful. Maybe boring is stable. Maybe boring is healthy. 😄
And maybe, just maybe, that’s something to be grateful for.
So no, I’m not trying to preach or judge anyone’s choices. I’m just sharing my little internal drama over spicy snacks. Hehe. It sounds simple, but for me it represents something bigger: learning to prioritize long-term well-being over short-term pleasure.
Because health is something we truly appreciate only when it’s disturbed.
Seeing my neighbor in the hospital reminded me that our bodies are fragile. We only get one. And while we can’t control everything, we can control small daily decisions like what we put into our mouths.
So yes, I still crave spicy crunchy snacks sometimes. I still stare at them in the store. But now, I pause. I think. And sometimes, I walk away.
I desire… but I choose not to.
And that choice? It makes me feel stronger than any level 10 spicy cracker ever could.
That’s all from my little “complicated” life story.
I hope this reflection brings some value to you too.
Wherever you are, please take care of your health.
Your future self will thank you. 🤍☺️
