A Person Who Exists

I love steak.

When I say that, I mean I really love steak. It’s my favorite food. Nothing satisfies me more than a juicy, succulent ribeye cooked to medium-rare perfection. I care about the quality of my steak. I like the fat cap and the marbling that tells you just how good the steak is, even when it hasn’t been cooked. In fact, I will choose the A5 Wagyu whenever I have the means to afford it instead of a USDA Choice Steak. As you can tell, I am very particular about my steak, especially when the situation calls for it.

For those who don’t like steak, substitute it with your favorite food for now. You’ll understand why soon enough.

But let’s say I’m hungry. Not just any type of hungry, mind you, but the kind of hungry that’s craving a certain food. You know what I’m talking about. The kind of hunger that makes you want something, and now. The kind of hunger that brings out the true desire in you. It’s not the kind of hunger that will be sated with just any old food, but a hunger that can only be filled by a certain something. It’s a craving from deep within. This hunger won’t be filled by chicken, ground beef, a taco, a burger, or even a pizza. This is a hunger that can only be sated by a steak. I could spend more and look for the A5 Wagyu, but what if I have to go to the other side of town for it? What if I were not able to afford it today? Or the most important stipulation- what if I want it now? When I’m this hungry, I can look past whether the steak is the best or not, because all I am trying to accomplish is to eat steak. Nothing more, nothing less.

If I want steak, but all I care about is eating said steak, I will choose the most convenient option. Not the best option, but the one I can get as fast as possible and with the least amount of effort to fulfill my need.

Let me rephrase that for you. If I am craving steak, I do not care if it’s the best steak available. I care about whether I can get the steak now to fulfill my craving. I won’t choose the steak that’s better if it’s too far away. If I can’t reach it now, I will not go after it. If it takes too much effort simply to fulfill my desire for a good steak when all I want is the steak itself, I will do what needs to be done to sate my hunger. I will choose the most expedient option and go somewhere that will allow me to have steak in the most convenient way possible, whether that’s the fastest or closest option. At this moment, I do not care if it has the highest amount of marbling or a large fat cap. I just want steak.

This isn’t about steak.

~Con R, May 21, 2025