Give a child a cup of plain vanilla ice cream, and they’re going to light up with delight. “Yummy! This is so good!”
Now, the next time, you offer them ice cream—but this time, you’ve added sprinkles. They love it even more.
Then you take it a step further: a scoop of ice cream with sprinkles, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. Of course, it’s the ultimate treat!
But what happens when you go back to offering just plain vanilla ice cream? They refuse. “Where are the sprinkles? The whipped cream? The cherry?”
What once felt like the best thing ever—just vanilla ice cream—has now become “boring.”
This scenario isn’t just about ice cream. It’s playing out all around us, with everything.
In a world constantly trying to one-up itself, we’ve forgotten how to appreciate the simple things. We keep piling on sprinkles, whipped cream, and cherries in every area of our lives—whether it’s material possessions, experiences, or even the way we seek validation from others.
The problem is, when we get caught up in all the add-ons, we lose sight of the essence. We stop noticing the “ice cream” itself. Its flavor and joy are drowned out by all the extras.
This is why “going back to basics” is so important. At first, it may feel dull or underwhelming. But over time, you start to notice the richness in simplicity—the way life was meant to be enjoyed.
Not everything needs sprinkles, whipped cream, or cherries to be special. Sometimes, the simplest things, enjoyed as they are, hold the most joy. Save the extras for rare, special moments—and watch how the beauty of the basics begins to shine again.
The Wild Gems 