I'm such an impulse buyer. I once went into a pet store for dog

Hear, O listeners, the words of Colton Underwood, who confessed with humor and humility: “I’m such an impulse buyer. I once went into a pet store for dog food and left with a fish tank and five fish. And yes, of course I forgot to buy dog food.” Though it stirs laughter, this quote carries wisdom about the human heart, desire, and the ease with which we are led astray by momentary passions.

To be an impulse buyer is to be swayed by the glitter of the moment, to forget the original purpose, and to surrender to temptation. In Underwood’s tale, the errand was simple: to buy dog food. But the allure of the fish tank, with its shimmering waters and darting life, drew him away from his mission. In the end, he gained what he did not intend and lost what he came for. This story, wrapped in humor, is a parable of distraction, of how desires multiply, and of how easily focus can be scattered.

The pet store becomes here a symbol of life itself, filled with choices, opportunities, and temptations. One enters with a clear goal, but countless other delights call out. Some of these may enrich us, just as the fish added new beauty to Underwood’s home. Yet if the original duty is forgotten—as the dog food was—then joy becomes tangled with neglect. The lesson is not to banish delight, but to remember the duty for which you first set out.

Consider, O listener, the tale of Hernán Cortés and his arrival in the New World. Though his mission was conquest, many of his men became distracted by gold, jewels, and pleasures. They forgot discipline, and their lack of focus nearly destroyed them. In this, as in Underwood’s humorous admission, lies the truth: when we forget our essential task, when we chase after glitter without tending to what is necessary, chaos and regret follow.

The meaning of the words is this: the human heart is restless and easily enticed. The fish tank and the five fish are symbols of our many desires, lovely yet distracting, while the forgotten dog food represents the responsibilities that sustain life. To balance the two—to enjoy what delights us without neglecting what sustains us—is the art of wisdom. Without balance, indulgence becomes folly.

The lesson for you, O child of tomorrow, is clear: let not your impulses rule you. Delight in the wonders of life, but do not let them blind you to your duties. It is not wrong to buy the fish tank, but it is wrong to forget to feed the dog who waits for you at home. Likewise, in life’s greater journeys, take joy in detours and new discoveries, but never forget the promises you have made and the obligations that bind you.

Practical action follows: before entering the “pet store” of life’s choices, remind yourself of your true purpose. Write it down, hold it in your heart, and return to it often. Allow yourself room for spontaneity—for joy often comes unplanned—but anchor it always in responsibility. Let each impulse be tempered by reflection: “Will this bring life, or will it cause me to forget what truly matters?” In this balance, you will find both joy and peace.

Therefore, remember Underwood’s wisdom: to laugh at one’s folly is noble, but to learn from it is greater still. Be not a slave to impulse, but neither deny the beauty of surprise. Walk the middle path: honor your duties, yet welcome delight when it does not undo them. In this way, you will live richly, responsibly, and joyfully, never forgetting the dog food, even as you marvel at the shimmering dance of the fish.