The Apple

On an early morning walk, I was looking at all the fruit trees in our neighborhood. Cherries, apples, plums, some ripe and ready to pick. As I passed one house, I noticed a small apple tree, with one really big red apple. I thought “mmmm, I bet that apple would be delicious”.

I though about running across the lawn and grabbing the apple. But then something clicked in my brain. That would not be the right thing to do, it is not my apple or my tree.

What if I got caught in the act? I would be very embarrassed.

Yes, it is only an apple, but I have been taught, that how you do one thing, is usually how you do everything.

Why would I think I had the right to take that apple. If there had been a full tree, it may have been a different story. I thought of the person who lived there, who was excited about the lone apple the tree grew this year. Maybe they were anticipating the juicy first bite too. I know I would be disappointed if it was the other way around, and someone took the liberty of eating my one and only apple.

This whole train of thought is how I think all the time. Will I inconvenience someone, is it the right thing to do and will I be embarrassed or ashamed if I got caught? This was how I was brought up and taught my kids. Sometimes making the right decision is not the easier or most fun. And yes, sometimes I overthink these situations.

Ask my kids, I used to quiz them all the time on scenarios like these.

Me: Kids, what would you do if you found a wallet with money.
Kids,: grab the money and go to buy a slurpee.
Me: wrong, you would return the wallet to the owner with the money.
Kids: Just kidding mom, that is what I would do, .LOL Embarrassed look on their faces.

I asked this question on Facebook, and it was so interesting to see what my friends and family thought I would do. Some saw me as the rebel who ran up and took the risk. But a few knew that I would not take the apple.

Right or wrong, boring or a risk taker, this is me being authentic and maybe boring, I don’t know.

Now if the tree was full of apples… I may have convinced myself that one apple may not be a big deal, who knows.

What would you have done?

Dianna Bowes is the founder of Fabulous@50 and Creative Director of Be Fabulous! EMagazine.