Sometimes I Just Like Apple Juice
“The question is not what you look at, but what you see.” - Henry David Thoreau
Because not everything needs to mean something.
I don’t have anything groundbreaking to say in this one. No mystical metaphors, no coded scripture, no sharp take on modern masculinity or the digital world. I’m just sitting here after a long day, relaxed, quiet, and I’ve got a glass of apple juice in my hand. And I like it. That’s it.
Sometimes I just like Apple Juice.
And the thing is, even that feels like a radical or quasi-controversial statement these days. We live in a time where everything has to mean something. You can't just enjoy a thing without someone asking what the symbolism is or how it connects to you personally. But nah, man. Sometimes it really is just apple juice. Cold. Golden. Tangy. No caption needed.
I think we’ve kind of forgotten how to just enjoy stuff without trying to make it into content or wisdom or personal branding. Everyone’s turning their morning walk into a podcast moment. Their coffee starts to turn into a TED Talk. Their relationships start to turn into lessons. Their silence starts to turn into a post about mental health or spirituality. And I do get it, some of those things are beautiful and hold meaning. But damn, let people breathe. Let yourself breathe. Relax…life ain’t so serious.
I guess that makes me a hypocrite.
But here’s what I’m getting at. Not everything needs to be profound. Not every moment needs a cherry on top. Not every day needs a major breakthrough. Some days, you're just a man casually enjoying apple juice, and that’s okay.
Honestly, I think the world would feel a little more peaceful if more people were allowed to enjoy things without performing. Apple juice takes me back to being a kid, when liking something didn’t need a reason. You liked it because it tasted good. That was the whole story. There was nothing more to it. Circa 2006. Long before we lost our minds.
I remember school lunches, where the little juice box was the best part of the tray. Or field trips where they handed out those tiny cups of apple juice where you’d peel back the aluminum lid, they were never enough but always hit so damn hard. Even now, I’ll grab a bottle sometimes and it’s like time slows down for a second. No responsibilities, no DM’s, no pressure, just me and a glass of golden nostalgia.
I’m not saying apple juice is deep. It’s not. At all. That’s kind of the point. That maybe honoring the simple things is deeper than we realize. Maybe that’s part of manhood too, knowing when to go hard, and when to let your guard down for five minutes to enjoy something without apology.
I think we all need stuff like that. Something unexplainable that brings you back to yourself. Something that doesn’t need to be defended or understood. For some of us it’s a certain old movie. For others, it’s lifting without music. For me, at least today, it’s apple juice. And I’m not going to act like that’s not enough.
So if you’re expecting some big message or takeaway from this one, I’ve got bad news. There isn’t one. Not really.
This is just a reminder that you're allowed to enjoy something without attaching a meaning to it. You can exist without having to explain your existence. You can sip your apple juice, mind your business, and feel good about the fact that this small thing is bringing you a little bit of peace.
That’s all I’ve got for you. No hidden message. No plot twist. Nothing.
Sometime I just like Apple Juice.
Martinellis, Old Orchard, Minute Maid, Mott’s, Simply.
Doesn’t matter. Be more unserious.
