A typical Saturday when I was running for Idaho State involved a 16-18 mile long run with
several other guys on my team if we didn’t have a meet.  Then, we would often go to Costco,
which was arguably the most exciting locale in Pocatello, Idaho.  None of us actually had
memberships, but it didn’t matter because we were on a first-name basis with all the Sample
Ladies.  I think they all felt bad for the impoverished and emaciated ISU Cross Country team,
and we eagerly shoveled fragments of Chicken Bakes and pizza rolls down our throats.  Loretta,
in particular, always gave me extra handouts…I think she either liked my hair or found me
winsome.  Or maybe she just thought I looked like a skeleton…regardless, we had something
special.

But one fateful Saturday, I apparently was given a Chicken Bake that was a little lacking on the
“Bake” part…and I spent that night puking my guts out until I passed out on the bathroom
floor.  Most people in college have typically ingested something other than a Costco calzone
when they find themselves in a similar predicament, but that pretty much ruined Chicken Bakes
for me.   I lost touch with Loretta and I haven’t had one since.

Similarly, many people let one unfortunate circumstance taint their perspectives, leading to
overgeneralizations and reckless rationalizations.

“I went to a church with a bunch of judgmental, legalistic hypocrites, so I’m never going to
church again.”

“I had the worst muscle aches on a statin, so I’m never taking any cholesterol medication.”

“I went to Crossfit once and couldn’t walk for a week afterwards, so exercise just isn’t for me.”

Certainly, if you find yourself in a toxic environment, get out immediately.  But if you make
sweeping assumptions and broad generalizations, you may be letting one uncooked Chicken
Bake deprive you of the joys of Costco…and that is truly tragic.