ON DEFERRED GRATIFICATION

When I worked at Walgreens, the shifts I worked were generally either 7:30-5 or 2-10:30. Standard eight or nine-hour shifts, I suppose.

Conventional thought holds that one would take a lunch break in the middle of the shift, in order to effectively "balance" the day. So the half-hour lunch would fall either at 12 noon or 6 pm, depending on the shift. I can say that over four years, I never opted to take my break at that time.

I always took my "day shift" lunch at 2 pm, and my night shift lunch at 8:30 (at which point I would also count the safe and begin the closing procedures - counting out banks, etc.). I think the reason I liked my late lunches was that the day AFTER the lunch seemed so short. I was willing to work on an emptier stomach pre-lunch, in order to enjoy the shorter post-lunch shift.

I was talking with co-workers on Wednesday and found that this was the case for them as well, for the same reason. We all agreed that in jobs like that, a shorter post-lunch period was infinitely preferable. (Note: especially at Walgreens, where I could buy a pack of peanuts and drink a soda without "officially" breaking).

I brought up the fact that I am a deferred gratification person. If you give me the choice between a dollar now, or two dollars later, no matter how much I want a dollar now, I will wait pretty much every time. I would rather take a little unpleasantness now in order to have more pleasantness later. Also, when I'm eating a meal with multiple items - for example, a steak with potatoes and broccoli, I will eat the steak last, because that's what I enjoy the most. I realize this is in direct opposition to the law of diminishing returns, but that's just how I'm wired. This is possibly why I don't drink; I would rather have "less fun" (and that's a whole 'nother issue) now and spare myself the less-pleasant consequences later. This is possibly why I don't vacation; I would rather have the money to spend on things I "need"). This is possibly why I went back to school for a graduate degree and took a huge pay cut - because down the line, I would rather have a job in a field I enjoy than money (although whether or not I enjoy this field is an issue I waver on).

I pointed out to my co-workers how deferred gratification is a very Christian concept. Many sins are pleasurable in the moment. But to ignore the temptation for immediate gratification (one dollar) sets Christians up for a reward in the future (two dollars!). I'm not attempting to preach (not in this post, at least), just trying to figure out why I am the way I am.