The Side Effects of Endorphins

When I was in high school for the longest time, I was the jock, the wise ass the troublemaker with middling grades. I got a job at McDonald’s and it was fun enough. Working at McDonald’s were all the smart kids in school. The kids in band and calculus class and those saving just enough money to put themselves into college.

I found out I was just like these kids. I was just as smart and I wanted to be headed where they were going. I started to apply myself academically and started getting a little confidence in myself. Sometimes I think that’s all that people need is a belief in ourselves.

I started to look around, and I recognized this wasn’t a place where I wanted to live. People were set in their ways and sometimes their ways were racist and ignorant.

And then there was 10th grade health class. There was a girl who sat next to me who probably had one of the bigger influences in my current life. She did art she could paint and draw. It sunk in many years ago, but I loved this kind of spirit.

I deeply regret not taking my language classes more seriously. I honestly wish I could apologize to my French teacher. In French.

Going back to the title of this piece, working at McDonald’s also played a small part in me not eating meat. I’m not saying everyone should work there, but this will be a nicer planet. We just didn’t eat meat.

I guess that’s what life’s all about picking up what you find useful and discarding what is not.