The first time I walked into ofKors Bakery in downtown Sarasota, Florida, I was barely awake with a group of girlfriends and had no idea of the life lesson I was about to receive.

When you step into ofKors, there’s an unexpected feeling of calmness. The space is light, the music is relaxing and, rather than yelling out flavors or banging the expresso machine into submission, the employees are at peace.

Looking back, I can see now I needed the intervention I was about to receive. On top of that, I was an easy target for the universe to realign.

Here’s how it happened.

OfKors has two large, open showcases of pastries and bakery delights. Cakes and cookies, breads and croissants, decadent desserts and tasty treats as far as the eye can see. And as I was struggling between what I thought I should order (eggs with vegetables and water) against what I really wanted to order (a pistachio muffin, large chai latte and a side of baklava), I brought my internal tug of war to the employee behind the counter in hopes of receiving some clarity.

His name was David, and I’m guessing he was in his mid-20s. His boyish, kind demeanor instantly resonated with me as I tried to externally process my internal breakfast struggle before him. As I offered my conundrum, David smiled and shook his head, keeping his thoughts to himself. When I noticed the biting of his tongue and believed his kind soul wouldn’t hurt a fly, I asked him what he was thinking.

David replied that every day he sees women like me — arguing with themselves about what they should eat instead of allowing themselves the pleasure of ordering the food they want to eat. He found it fascinating: The discomfort that comes from inside a person when they know what they want, but, for some reason, they refuse to allow themselves the pleasure of having it.

It soothed me instantly. David didn’t use the words “moderation” or “balance.” And he wasn’t looking to assuage any guilt or dismantle my willpower in order to make a quick buck. However, what he did that morning was remind me our internal struggles are extraordinary examples of how we often fight ourselves when it comes to receiving something good. Something we want. Something given to us purely for the purpose of relaxing and enjoying it.

I’ve been back to ofKors Bakery a few times here and there and made friends with some of the other employees, but I’ve not yet seen David again.

So, on behalf of all the middle-aged, occasionally weight-conscious women like me, I’d like to thank young David for his wise words, which shifted my perspective in more ways than one. The pistachio muffins of life are certainty worth it.

— Carrie Cox, account executive