Expiry Date

“Why do all good things come to an end?”

The smell of anything that has reached its’ expiry date is never pleasant. Whether it be milk, bread, eggs or left over tuna, we never hesitate to throw that item straight in the bin. Why? Because we know that if we eat it, it will surely be of no nutritional benefit to us.

Over time, there is a lot more than just the contents of our fridge that can turn sour. The reason that manufacturers put a sell by date, use by date and expiry date on items we purchase it to protect us as consumers and them and providers-so we don’t end up taking them to court and suing them due to their lack of care. If we choose to drink milk that should have been thrown out 2 months ago, then we are risking our health at a very high stake, because according to the manufacturers guidelines, we’ve already been warned- via the expiration date. Yet- at times, and I think we are all guilty to this, we fall short of not reading the small print, because we believe that we’re invincible to certain areas in our life turning bad.

Think back to when you were in school. Are the people who were you closest friends still your closest friends today? Are the clothes that you paraded around in and saved up months to purchased the same clothes that you wear with pride now? I’m pretty sure that the answer would predominately be no. Not because, those options aren’t any good, it’s just that you’ve changed. Your needs have changed and as a result certain things that we thought would last forever haven’t because they can’t.

We never look at a situation and gage when this will have to be tossed out, because the expiry date is due, but naturally we move on. Acknowledging that there are better choices, opportunities people etc. for us but if our hands are still clinging on to the last of the expired milk and eggs we cannot embrace the fresh produce available to us.

“To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Change is good, its progressive and natural- we just have to embrace it. I used to wonder why companies would bring out newer models of things that we already have. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it right? But, then I realised that certain things in life are made obsolete. Because the major companies need to keep one step ahead of the game and keep us as the consumer needing, and in some cases, wanting more. So, they give their products a shelf life. That’s why you iPod, laptop. TV (insert any device/ item you're attached to here) always breaks down right at the moment that the newer version is being launched.

Conspiracy? Nah. Co-incidence? Nope. Bad luck? Pshh! Doing us a favour? I think so. Some would just put this down to good ol’ marketing strategies, however, as much as marketing can and does mess with us psychologically, they are also helping us progress. Or else, we’d all still be sitting in awe gazing at an 8 inch black and white TV- thinking that we’ve reached the pinnacle of technology. Thanks to expiry dates on certain advancements in life we no longer find ourselves tediously rewinding back cassette tapes and videos. But now we have DVD’s, blue ray, HDTV and even 3D television. And in years to come, the latter will have reached their expiry dates and we will have moved on to something greater. Usually it’s only the ‘weirdo in the corner’ who choose to stay stuck in the past. The person who refuses to acknowledge that you don’t need to send messages via donkey or carrier pigeon, when you can send a text/ email or use Skype.

Although preservation helps us remember where we came from, there is no point in holding onto the eggs you bought a month a go, because sooner or later, they are going to go off and leave a terrible stench. And, we all know, that it’s not wise to put all your eggs in one basket anyway. So, lets be aware that there is an expiry date, whatever it may be, jobs, commitments, habits, even if it’s a bad relationship or friendship that has turned sour over time. Maybe it’s time to open the lid and pour the contents of that carton down the sink and reach out for that fresh carton/ packet of whatever until the time comes to move on again.

I came. I saw. I blog.

Ruthie x