With Dry January behind me, I am taking a moment for quiet reflexion. For me, Dry January ended on Friday, when I had wine with dinner under the theory of “good enough.” Wait, what? No special cocktail with St. Germain? I was actually surprised at how little pomp and circumstance I gave the moment--although there was a selfie with my husband to our kids hoisting our glasses. And, no, I didn’t wait until February 1st. I’m not much for those kind of details, believing more in the “spirit” of the proposition rather than its “letter.”
Here’s what I learned. Change requires effort and despite all my kicking and screaming I can participate in substitution, distraction, and meditation. I even tried mindful attention when negative thoughts had me circling the drain of, “Fat, Fifty, and a Failure.” Blogging really helped. So did my Brain Trust, my neighbors, with whom I meet once a week to discuss our efforts at achieving lasting change in our lives. I returned to therapy sessions and even tried hypnosis.
The whole thing is a little like eating your spinach. Maybe you hate the taste at first, but eventually you learn how to incorporate it into your diet--although I still haven’t figured out how to be “happy” about my metaphorical spinach, so maybe I’m not at the point where I’m mindlessly picking out a sprig from the salad to munch on while I cut tomatoes. But it’s a start.
And that’s the point. It’s a start. But can I make it a lifestyle?
Go Pats!
This is my year of change. I hope you join me.
Please feel free to comment below.
Here’s what I learned. Change requires effort and despite all my kicking and screaming I can participate in substitution, distraction, and meditation. I even tried mindful attention when negative thoughts had me circling the drain of, “Fat, Fifty, and a Failure.” Blogging really helped. So did my Brain Trust, my neighbors, with whom I meet once a week to discuss our efforts at achieving lasting change in our lives. I returned to therapy sessions and even tried hypnosis.
The whole thing is a little like eating your spinach. Maybe you hate the taste at first, but eventually you learn how to incorporate it into your diet--although I still haven’t figured out how to be “happy” about my metaphorical spinach, so maybe I’m not at the point where I’m mindlessly picking out a sprig from the salad to munch on while I cut tomatoes. But it’s a start.
And that’s the point. It’s a start. But can I make it a lifestyle?
Go Pats!
This is my year of change. I hope you join me.
Please feel free to comment below.
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