How many of you can remember when you were a kid and looked for that proverbial prize in the box of cereal? I can remember when I was about 8 years old, I asked my mom to buy me a certain cereal because it sponsored Flash Gordon. Its possible that many of you younger readers dont have a clue who Flash Gordon was. Flash Gordon was a make believe super hero who was invincible. He crusaded for good deeds in outer space.

At any rate, my mom bought the cereal for me mainly because I wanted the prize that came with it. The prize was a Flash Gordon Super Vision Shield. It was an amber colored pair of goggles.

However, in order to get to the prize I had to pour the entire box of cereal out because it was at the bottom. I didnt dare think of eating my way to the prize because I was too impatient. Yes, I wanted to be like Flash Gordon! Once that shield came pouring out from the bottom I put it on and I felt invincible like my favorite super hero. I wore it everywhere my mom and I went. I even tried to wear it to school but the teachers didnt want a super hero flying around the playground.

Over the years there were other neat prizes from many different brands of cereal, but I was never really interested in the cereal, only the prize. In my defense, I could say, But I was only a kid and didnt know any better.

When you think about it; life itself can be like a box of cereal. Even as adults we keep looking for that proverbial prize which well sometimes go through all costs to obtain. Just think about what we do at times. We can get greedy and pushy just to get what we think is the prize.

If you happen to have a box of cereal that has a prize in it, what would you do? Would you throw it away just to get to the prize? Unfortunately there are times we dont consider our friendships or other peoples feelings.

Try to look at it in a different perspective. Wouldnt it be better to enjoy the journey along the way? In other words, dont be impatient and pour the cereal out of the box. That will only spoil the real meaning of the prize. Savor what you have and be grateful. I guarantee your prize will appear, without having to push others out of the way to get it.

Tony Masiello 2006

Tony Masiello

Tony Masiello lives in Washington State with his wife and daughter. He enjoys beachcombing, gardening, writing, and spending time with his family.