Chef Tony and his son in Downtown Clarksdale
by POOR WILLIAM
(Clarksdale, Mississippi)
Rip the ribald jester, local Clarksdale, MS hairdresser and Clark Street savant, told a tale recently that analogically sums up a modern day Mississippi Delta dilemma—the lack of delayed gratification.
Now, Poor William rarely turns down an adult beverage, is known to eat all that is before him, eschews the proverb stating that a man given to appetites should hold a knife to his throat, and seldom denies himself anything that will bring short-term pleasure. So, if he admits that he rarely delays gratification, does it make him a hypocrite when discussing the lack of delayed gratification in others? Hmmm!
My young and salacious friend Rip was recently patronizing a semi-local convenience store just on the edge of Clarksdale, when he observed a very young boy jump out of a vehicle, look up at his mom, and remonstrate vehemently, “I got a whole bag of cookies; I don’t need you!”
Poor William is fairly certain that this non-appreciative, Keebler elf of a lad had not thought much about what might happen when he polished off the last broken treat, again became hungry, and needed a ride back to the lair where he was raised.
In our consumer-driven culture, most of us rarely forego any immediate delight in the hope that future generations will have ample resources for their sustenance and pleasure.
We are not very “others-centered,” and too often we ensure that only our needs are met.
When teaching out West several years ago, I had a student who would often remark, “I get’s mines,” meaning that he would make sure that his needs were met and to heck with the needs of others.
Not only does the “I got a whole bag of cookies” and “I get’s mines” mentality reveal selfishness in its rawest form, but it demonstrates a complete short-sightedness for the needs of future generations—our own progeny.
How many folks today are robbing their children and their children’s children by consuming excess resources, using public funds set aside specifically for those who are not able to work, and in general not looking out for those to come?
Research has revealed that children who delay gratification score much higher on the SAT, have better concentration, more confidence, and are more successful as adults.
When we put off our satisfaction, we not only self-discover our own strengths, but we manifest to others that we believe in their future.
So, the next time Poor William has a whole bag of cookies, I hope he will share and play well with others.
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