The great thing about McDonald's is that they have a lot of

"The great thing about McDonald's is that they have a lot of different things on the menu. I love their salads." — Beyoncé Knowles

At first, these words from Beyoncé Knowles, queen of modern music and symbol of relentless excellence, may sound simple — even lighthearted. Yet beneath their modest surface lies a profound truth about choice, balance, and the wisdom of finding nourishment where others see only indulgence. For in this reflection, Beyoncé does not merely speak of food, but of life’s table itself — of the importance of diversity, of moderation, and of the power to choose rightly amidst abundance.

The “menu” she praises is not only that of McDonald’s, but a metaphor for the modern world. Life today, like the glowing sign of that golden arch, offers a multitude of choices — some sweet, some bitter, some nourishing, some destructive. The wise soul learns to select with discernment, not to reject all, nor to consume all, but to find harmony between enjoyment and discipline. In saying she loves their salads, Beyoncé reminds us that even in a place of temptation and excess, one may still choose what sustains the body and uplifts the spirit. It is a lesson in self-control wrapped in simplicity.

Born in Houston, raised amidst both glamour and grit, Beyoncé’s path has been one of constant decision — of learning, at each stage of fame, to choose purpose over pleasure, craft over comfort. Her remark about McDonald’s reflects that same discipline in miniature. Where others might see fast food as a symbol of indulgence, she finds balance, choosing from the many what aligns with her health, her energy, her goals. This is the same principle that guided her rise: to find purity in abundance, to master the menu of life rather than be mastered by it.

History itself echoes this lesson. The Stoics of ancient Greece and Rome — Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and others — taught that wisdom lies not in denying the world, but in governing desire within it. To walk through a marketplace, said the philosophers, is to see the multitude of life’s offerings. The fool takes all; the cynic takes none; the wise choose what is fitting. In this way, Beyoncé’s words are not unlike those of the ancients: they honor the power of choice, the freedom of moderation, and the dignity of saying yes to some things while saying no to others.

The diversity of the menu also speaks to another truth: that beauty lies in variety. Just as McDonald’s offers food for every taste, so too does life offer paths for every heart. Beyoncé, who has sung across genres and redefined art with innovation, embodies this principle. Her love for diversity — in sound, in culture, in experience — mirrors her appreciation for variety in even the simplest of pleasures. To celebrate choice is to celebrate humanity itself, for in difference we find creation, and in creation we find joy.

Therefore, my child, let this humble saying remind you of a mighty lesson. In a world overflowing with choices, be not gluttonous, nor ascetic, but discerning. Choose what strengthens your body, sharpens your mind, and nourishes your soul. Whether in food, in friendship, or in fate, you stand each day before life’s great menu — do not eat without thought, nor reject without understanding. Like Beyoncé, find your salad amidst the feast, and let your choices reflect not your appetite, but your wisdom.

And remember: variety is not chaos, but opportunity. In the multitude of options lies the freedom to shape your destiny. Take joy in the abundance of life, but rule it with grace. For the true queen — in music, in life, in spirit — is not the one who consumes everything, but the one who chooses with purpose, and walks through the banquet of the world with balance in her heart and light in her step.