There is simply too much beef.

Beef is expensive.
Beef is everywhere.
And apparently, everyone has beef with everyone else.

There is even a television show called Beef, which is essentially an extended meditation on what happens when two people cannot let a grudge go.

We have become remarkably committed to keeping score.

You disrespected me?
I’ll show you.

You slighted me?
I’ll raise you.

You didn’t invite me?
Consider the invitation officially rescinded for the next seven generations.

It’s a strange psychological phenomenon. There is the need to right the wrong can become more important than the original wrong.

One-upping becomes a full-time job.

We seem increasingly sensitive to disrespect, perceived or otherwise. A look. A comment. A tone. A parking space. A text that took three hours to answer.

Suddenly, we’re preparing for war.

It’s almost mafia logic:

You disrespected me.
I cannot let that stand.

Except we’re not in The Godfather.
We’re at brunch.

Maybe we have forgotten that not every slight requires a response.

Some things can simply be annoying.

Some people can simply be assholes.

And sometimes the most psychologically healthy response is:

Huh. That was unpleasant.

And then carry on.

Because if we spend our lives avenging every perceived insult, we aren’t actually living.

We’re just collecting beef.

And frankly, at these prices,
who can afford it?