Piñata, Day 166

Have you ever noticed that once a piñata is broken open the littler kids tend to pick up one, two or three pieces of candy and the older kids get handfuls, armfuls, pocketfuls of stash? I was observing this very situation up close and personal yesterday. My 4 year old nephew was extremely excited about all the candy that he knew was inside that piñata. He was even more excited about getting his second chance at hitting the thing. But his eyes were glued on that opening. He was waiting for those older kids to knock it open and then he was going to get some candy. It was all planned out. I could see it in his eyes.

The piñata busted, all the kids ran, my nephew grabbed one piece of candy, began trying to open it so he could instantly enjoy the thing and before I knew it the ground was almost clear. I looked around to see the other smaller children executing the same course of action. The little ones never get as much candy at a piñata event but I don’t believe it has much to do with their size or speed. Those little guys are fast. Their minds are focused on now. They are excited about that one piece of candy and there isn’t a trigger inside of their little brains that tells them to hold off on the enjoyment so they can snatch up more enjoyment for later.

Its only once they notice that all the older kids are holding large amounts of the sweet stuff that they start to get frustrated about their tasty little treat. Once they compare the joy they’ve received from their conquest with the hoard the older ones are holding then they get upset and frustrated. I believe that if a piñata busted and every kid got one piece of candy the little ones would be perfectly content. They would have their conquest. They would have their treat. They would have their enjoyment. It is the older ones who are focused on winning, on getting the most, on having as much as possible to last them forever, or at least a few hours. It is the older ones who would be disappointed with the game if the winning meant only momentary satisfaction.

I like the way those littler guys think. It’s too bad they have to witness the hoarding. It’s too bad they can’t just enjoy that which they set out to do and of which they accomplished.