I Don’t Want A Donut.

June 5th was National Donut Day, and it reminded me of a time when a former coworker brought donuts to work, and another coworker called out my name and said, “Cameron, come get a donut,” in a loud and demanding tone, like I’m their dog that they’re calling to come eat. This coworker didn’t tell anyone else to come get a donut. The coworker who brought the donuts had already walked past my cubicle and informed me.

I just didn’t like the person’s tone and word choice. They could have just said, Hey Cameron, they got donuts up here. Or just asked if I wanted a donut. 

This is one of the things I hate about workplace culture: making people feel obligated to eat food that someone brought.

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it when someone brings actual food, especially on days when I didn’t bring my own lunch. But when people bring desserts, especially something that they didn’t make themselves, I have no issue with saying, “I appreciate it, but no thanks.”

I appreciate that you took the time to think about your workplace and spent your own money, but that doesn’t make anyone obligated to partake in what you brought.

I eventually got up and grabbed a donut because the same coworker said, “Cameron is missing out.” Which prompted another coworker to say, “Cameron said no? Something’s wrong with him.” 

So since these coworkers were so worried about me missing out on donuts, I just sat it on my desk and eventually threw it away. But that’s petty. And in the end it doesn’t make me feel any better. Next time someone brings in junk food, I will respectfully decline, and if they or anyone else gets offended, then so be it. Ain’t no such thing as a happy life pleasing everyone. 

It reminded me of how we often think more about the people who didn’t write us Happy Birthday on Facebook rather than appreciating all those who did. 

Later in the afternoon, one coworker who ate a donut complained about feeling sleepy. And another coworker who ate too many donuts felt like they were going to throw up. So at the end of the day, instead of feeling like I wasn’t being a team player, I’m sure glad that I didn’t eat the donut that I didn’t want.