In Day 3 of the 7 Things My Mother Gave Me series for International Women’s Day, I reflect on another Jamaican proverb my mother often used while I was growing up: “Wha sweet nanny goat ah go run im belly.” What tastes sweet to the goat today will upset its stomach tomorrow.

For a long time, I didn’t fully understand what she meant. But over time, I began to see the wisdom behind it. This proverb reminds us that what feels like the best choice in the moment is not always the one that leads to the best outcome later. Some decisions that seem appealing today can carry consequences we only recognize with time.

In this reflection, I explore how discernment helps us look beyond immediate comfort and consider the longer-term impact of our choices.

Because sometimes the most important question is not what feels good now, but what will truly serve us - and others -later.