Choose between eating or breathing, my friend.

It was a typical Saturday afternoon when my buddy Jake and I decided to hit up the all-you-can-eat buffet down the street. As we settled into our seats, Jake, with his eyes gleaming at the endless array of culinary delights, confidently proclaimed, “I’m going to eat so much food today, I might forget to breathe!” With a plate piled high with ribs, fries, and a suspiciously large slice of chocolate cake, he dug in like he was trying to set a record. Little did he know, the laughter from our friends beside us would soon steal the show.
Things took a turn when Jake, clearly overestimating his capacity, suddenly paused mid-bite, his cheeks stuffed and a look of panic setting in. “Bro, I can’t breathe!” he gasped, gesturing to his overflowing plate as if it were the source of his dilemma. The irony of a guy who had just declared his intention to forget about oxygen now facing a life-or-death decision between devouring that cake and inhaling sharply was just too much. We’re still not sure if he meant to make a choice or if the buffet was out to get him, but from that day on, “eat or breathe” became our battle cry during every meal.