I am a strict adherent of this principle. The best example is when I have any meal with meat in it; let’s say ugali, some greens and goat meat. I will typically eat the ugali and greens first, and remain with meat chunks on my plate to savor last.
If I have stuff to do, I’ll start with the ones that I desire or enjoy least, working my way up to those that please me most.
It’s how I work. How I eat. How I do almost everything.
The only thing which attempted to change my perspective on this were the words I got from an old man back in 2014.
I met the old man in my search for marijuana circa. 2013, in the Kahawa area largely associated with students and alumni of Kenyatta University. I was a student then (I had actually dropped out of school but I hadn’t told anyone…not even my roommate knew…carrying such lies is a heavy burden my friends). And so we met a marijuana plug (dealer, pusher, peddler) called Jumper. Tall guy, in his early forties it seemed. His spot was located next to a river, where it seemed Mzee also lived. My initial assumption was that Jumper was Mzee’s son. Turns out Jumper was only there cause of the convenience of operating from that location.
When construction of a sewer line messed up the riverside where they used to operate from, Jumper changed locations and we hardly went back to that location where Mzee used to reside.
One day soon following resumption of a new semester, my roommate and I decided to go looking for Mzee, see if he’s still around, so that we can give him a sample of shashamane (that indica strain from Ethiopia famed for its higher THC content than all local strains…all that kids nowadays know is this shash…local, landrace strains have been relegated to the backburner).
We did find him. Still sleeping under a shady looking tent thingamajig made of sticks and various kinds of polyethylene papers. Well, all that matters is shelter, no?
So Mzee regaled us with tales of old and even told us how the rich folk in the estate right beside where he was squatting had sent cops on him, and later on, he was arrested and sent to jail for a couple of months. That story pissed us off much.
I can’t recall what triggered this particular topic, but Mzee ended up telling us of the folly in “saving the best for last.” He told us in manner of a hypothetical scenario.
Say you have a wonderful meal, similar to what I described earlier. One with some basic carb like ugali or rice, some veggies and some meat. If you’re like most people, you obviously value the meat above everything else on the plate. It is not only costlier, it excites your taste buds way more than any of the other food items. Mzee was of the opinion that one should start with what they consider best, in this case, the meat. Let’s assume that one starts with the ugali and veggies. Let us further assume that a very hungry guest shows up during the meal and there’s no more food left, and none that can be cooked for them at that time. The only option is for you to share with this individual your food. If you are like me, and save the best for last, you’ll end up giving the guest all of your meat, because that is most of what you will be left with on the plate. If I had eaten the meat first, I would have enjoyed the best part and in such a scenario, I would serve the guest the ugali and veggies that I’d be left with on the my plate.
So much for saving the best for last, huh?
What's on my playlist? Chilled Hiphop & NeoSoul 34 - Raphael
67 Year Affair 