Important Life Lesson from a Ramen Noodle House

Bonjour Royal friends!

Welcome to my blog, a ‘tongue-in-chic’ happiness lifestyle guide from a funny princess point of view!

Today I’d like to talk to you about what I learned from a night on the town at a Ramen Noodle House.

Gather your tiaras and crowns and plump your cushions, for I have a tale of noodles, sides, and the labels we live by. 

It all began on a fine evening when my royal consort and I ventured to a Ramen Noodle House with another couple. Little did I know, this humble noodle adventure would unveil a life metaphor as rich as a bowl of tonkotsu broth.

The Ramen Royal Rumble

The evening started delightfully enough. We perused the menu and decided to share gyoza dumplings and mini curry pancakes as appetizers before diving into the majestic main event: ramen noodle bowls.

Our plan was clear, our spirits high. The waitress approached, quill in hand, and we placed our royal decree—appetizers first, then ramen. And that, dear reader, is when the broth boiled over.  Because moments later, the appetizers arrived—alongside the ramen bowls! Quelle horreur! 

When we politely informed the waitress that we wished to enjoy our appetizers first (before the ramen noodle soup cooled into something resembling a royal footbath), she pushed back unexpectedly. Apparently, this is how they do things around these here parts. 

My huff worked up a duff, which is not my normal keel. First, don’t they know it’s not “normal” to bring appetizers out at the exact time of the main dish? Second, don’t they know the customer is always right?  

Our server looked perplexed. “But many of our customers prefer everything served together,” she explained. 

Well, well, well!  We most certainly were not those customers. Couldn’t she see my (invisible) tiara?  After some back-and-forth, the ramen retreated to the kitchen until its proper debut.

That night, as I lay in my royal chambers, musing over the evening’s unusual exchange, it hit me: the root of this ramen misadventure was a linguistic pickle.  The dumplings and pancakes weren’t listed as “appetizers” on the menu; they were labeled “sides.”

Ah, the power of a single word to shape expectations, actions, and outcomes! 

Labels Matter, Darling

This culinary kerfuffle revealed an essential truth: labels are not just words; they are the heralds of expectation.

Call it a “side,” and it’s an accompaniment, something that tags along quietly. Call it an “appetizer,” and it becomes a prelude, a grand introduction that sets the stage for the main course. This tiny distinction can completely alter the flow of your meal and your expectations for how it will unfold. The difference is subtle but significant, much like the aesthetic difference between the “pancakes” and “royal crepes.” Or “Gefilte fish” and “cannels.” 

But here’s where the metaphorical rubber meets the road and something truly profound is revealed: forget the food; the labels we assign to ourselves are just as powerful. 

Consider the inner chatter that runs through our minds like a ticker tape at the stock exchange of self-esteem. Are we calling ourselves “fat,” “lazy,” or “less-than”? Royal friends, those labels stick like overcooked noodles, and they’re about as appetizing.

The Royal Label Makeover

This Raman Noodle mishap is a great metaphor to teach us to choose wisely the labels we call ourselves. Because what we label ourselves affects how we see ourselves, our emotions, our actions, and ultimately our quality of life.  Imagine instead if we crowned ourselves with empowering labels. Instead of “lazy,” we’re “a work in progress.” Instead of “fat,” we’re “strong and striving.” Labels like “worthy,” “capable,” and “resilient” infuse us with a sense of purpose and possibility—much like bestowing yourself a royal title, say Duchess of Determination or Countess of Courage. Doesn’t that make the quest for fulfillment feel grander and more delightful? They’re the verbal precursors, the appetizers if you will, to a feast of fulfillment.

Words matter, not just because they shape how others see us, but because they sculpt how we see ourselves. Negative labels are like serving cold ramen when you ordered piping hot positivity. Imagine walking into your day calling yourself “unworthy” or “incapable”—it’s like trying to enjoy soggy noodles: draining, disappointing, and entirely avoidable. You might skip opportunities, hold back from sharing ideas, or even start to believe you deserve less than you truly do, all because of the label you chose for yourself that morning. It’s no way to live, my dears! Unappetizing, unhelpful, and entirely avoidable.

Big happy, positive inspiring words help lift our spirits and help us move toward our big worthy goals. We get the feeling of having a purpose. But if we use words that put ourselves down, this feeling of possibility to achieve is dampened. And perhaps even a self-fulfilling prophesy. 

Be Your Own Best Friend

As princesses and princes of our own domains, we must be vigilant gatekeepers of our inner monologues. Replace the self-deprecating prattle with words that uplift and inspire. Be the benevolent ruler who grants yourself grace, hope, and the occasional royal treat—like a glittering tiara-shaped cupcake or an extra-long bubble bath surrounded by candles and classical music. Splendid, isn’t it? Because my Royal Friend, if you wouldn’t serve cold ramen to a guest, why dish it out to yourself? 

We need to learn to be our best friends and make sure the inner chatter and the labels we put on ourselves match that friendly mission. It’s the source of hope and motivation. An agent of change.  And, hey, to say the least, negative labels and inner chatter is most certainly not very appetizing. 

So, the next time you dine, whether at a noodle house or your own mental banquet, remember labels are everything. Choose them wisely, and your life can be as flavorful and fulfilling as the perfect bowl of ramen—served at precisely the right time.

Now go forth and reign gloriously. And let the tale of the ramen remind you: the words we choose—whether for ourselves, our meals, or our lives—can make all the difference. Choose wisely and dine deliciously on the banquet of life! And hey, if you must, order the sides and appetizers separately. 

Royally yours with love,

Princess Diane Von Brainisfried

x♥x♥x♥,

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Dame Diane Uniman, Aka Princess Diane von Brainisfried, is an attorney turned motivational speaker, certified positive psychology life coach and award-winning writer.  She wrote Bonjour, Breast Cancer-I’m Still Smiling…Wit, Wisdom, and Optimism for Beating the Breast Cancer Blues.