I love watermelon.

Not just a little bit—I mean, I love it.

There’s nothing quite like slicing a big ripe one in half, grabbing a spoon, and diving straight into that center cut. That’s the good stuff—so sweet, so light, so refreshing. For as long as I can remember, I’ve gone straight for the middle.

But last week, something different happened.

We were down to the last pieces in the container—you know the ones.

They’d been sitting in juice for a day or two. I’ve always avoided them.

Not as firm. Not as pretty. Not the “perfect” bite.

But this time? I grabbed one.

And to my surprise—it was… refreshing.

Not the best bite I’ve ever had.

But good. Surprisingly good.

And that simple moment sparked a thought:

How often do we miss out in life simply because something doesn’t match our expectations?

We do it in relationships.

We chase the ideal. The memory of a past love. The “center cut” version of someone we once adored—and we compare, judge, and miss the sweetness right in front of us.

We do it in our careers.

The job doesn’t look how we imagined, so we lose sight of the growth, the moments, the purpose.

We even do it to ourselves.

We hold ourselves to an outdated expectation of where we should be by now—and forget to honor how far we’ve come.

That soggy little piece of watermelon taught me this:

There’s still sweetness—even in the overlooked parts.

Maybe life isn’t about always getting the best slice.

Maybe it’s about learning to savor what is, not just what you thought it should be.

🔁 The Takeaway

Let this be your reminder:

Don’t let your judgmental self run the show. Don’t compare people to ghosts from the past. Don’t expect every moment to be the center cut.

Be the one who defines you.

Not your history.

Not someone else’s highlight reel.

Not a version of yourself that no longer fits.

There is unexpected sweetness everywhere—if we’re open enough to taste it.