Ever have one of those days where it dawns on you that we’re all just walking, talking collections of preferences—and we’ve somehow turned that into a giant, confusing game of sticker books? 🏷️
Let’s get philosophical for a moment. Lightly. With snacks.
You like chocolate. You don’t need a thesis statement to justify it—you just like it. If you like it a lot, someone might call you a chocoholic. That label saves time. It’s shorter than saying,
“Ah yes, Steve—the human who experiences disproportionate joy in the presence of cacao.”
That’s fine. Useful, even.
But it’s still not Steve.
Apply this logic to almost anything.
You like dogs? Great. You’re a person who likes dogs. The dog lover mug is cute, but it doesn’t explain your fears, your humour, your kindness, or the way you still think about that thing you said in 2014.
Now turn the dial up a bit.
If you like men, you like men.
If you like women, you like women.
If you like both—or neither—or people in general—you like what you like.
These are descriptions, not destinies. They tell us something, not everything. They’re facts about preference, not blueprints of the soul.
And yet—this is where we get enthusiastic.
We see someone enjoying something and our brains panic:
“QUICK. FETCH THE LABEL-MAKER.” 🏷️🚨
We slap on a sticker, file them neatly into a mental drawer, and feel a comforting sense of understanding.
But people aren’t drawers.
They’re whole, sparkling, contradictory galaxies.
The trouble starts when we confuse the sticker for the galaxy.
When we argue over the label instead of meeting the human.
When we build confusion, tension, or division around the simple truth that this person enjoys this thing.
Preferences are the seasoning of a life—not the main course.
You are the chef, the kitchen, the recipe, and the mysterious meal all at once. And no single sticker can capture that.
So today, let your preferences be what they are: things you enjoy.
Let other people’s preferences be what they are: things they enjoy.
Be curious, not furious.
Be amused, not confused.
And if possible—share some chocolate.
No label required.
