Decisions, decisions, decisions

By Jane Muhlstein

Talking to one of my roommates a few nights ago, I summed up the biggest reason I don't see myself being ready to settle into marriage anytime soon.

"I can't imagine not having complete control over every aspect of my own life right now," I said. "I just need to be able to make all my own decisions."

But when it comes down to it, I am one of the most indecisive people I know. About politics and other issues that I am passionate about, I am incredibly opinionated. But ask me to decide where to go for dinner, and you're in for 20 minutes of "well, what do you feel like?"

Clearly, there are decisions I am glad to make on my own. Had I been born in another time, my life would have been decided for me to a scary extent. But I was really born in the wrong era for someone who is so decisively challenged.

My refrigerator is a testament to my inability to make simple choices. I have always kept a stockpile of my faithful companion, Diet Coke, on hand to get me through nights of work and studying. I still have the stash, but now those trusty silver and red cans are joined by the cherry and vanilla alternatives.

Just the process of grocery shopping presents almost too many options for a single person to consider. Low-fat or light salad dressing (yes, there is a difference)? What kind of vinaigrette (balsamic, olive oil, red wine, roasted garlic, berry, Italian, honey dijon, citrus splash or lemon garlic and herb)? Clean Breeze, Mountain Spring or Tropical Clean laundry detergent? There are actually 19,000 different ways to order coffee at Starbucks.

There are many important things to be decided in the years ahead, but we are forced to make millions of insignificant choices in the meantime.

When I sent law school applications out in October, I was afraid my decision of where to go would essentially be made for me based on where I was accepted.

Over Christmas break, I got my first response. I was accepted to the second best school on my list. Last weekend, I got an acceptance to a school that I considered a backup plan when I sent out my applications. With it was an offer close to that of a full scholarship.

I have four letters to go, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up with a few options. Sometimes a decision comes along that you are lucky to be able to make.

* Contact Jane Muhlstein at (408) 554-4546 or jmuhlstein@scu.edu.