“Life is short. Eat dessert first.”

This little soundbite was on a bumper sticker in a car. And it made me smile. But then it made me think.

I get the sentiment entirely.

It goes against all those dictates that tell us to stay on the treadmill of tasks, hard work, sensible behaviour.

In many ways I like that.

However, I’ve been watching the European Athletics Championships on catch up after my holiday.

Much to the rest of my family’s bewilderment I am obsessed with it.

“They just run round in circles.” They say. Or “Wow! someone threw something!” Much eye rolling accompanies these observations.

But for me, those moments in competition are the dessert.

Most of the year those athletes wake in the dark, put their bodies through hell, endure injuries, deny themselves nights out.

Then they go out and have to conquer their nerves to perform.

Some of them never win a race.

But they did it. They were there. They had a goal. They worked for it. They earned the glory wherever they were placed crossing the finish line.

The work came first.

Now I am not saying we should not abandon the rules when we need to. Step back. Rest. Dance. Daydream.

All those things are important, of course.

And I think every day should contain something as joyous as dessert.

For all of us.

But there is a lot to be proud of when we eat the main course first.