Food and body and life and issues!
It's NOT my fault that as a child I wasn't told about nutrition.
It's NOT their fault they weren't well educated or were poor and couldn't afford the right foods.
It's NOT my fault that I've inherited certain traits and their consequences.
It's NOT their fault either, as they too were given it without consultation or agreement.
It's NOT my fault that every Celebration and every Sorrow was met with food, when boredom led to food and when even better cash flow led to food! -
But which food?
Not the wholesome home cooked ones - unfortunately the advertising conned us! The 'glitter and glam' of processed food, ready meals, sugary food and unhealthy eat outs!
There was a time when it looked like ALL life led to food! Stress or worry, happiness or success. All roads led to food.
But as life trundled along we found a couple of hidden truths - gems under the piles of oil and grease and fat and empty calories - struggling to get out and shout 'food is NOT the only comforter, and food is NOT the only reward!' & 'Good food is not what you're filling your body with!'
And so began a slow journey for food - of good and bad, what should be and what is, who to believe and who to turn a deaf ear to!
And where then would be Comfort and Joy?
Retrain your thinking!
There is Joy in simple activities like walking and talking and sharing time with people whom you trust. Joy in being able to watch the stars or hear the ocean or walk in the woods.
There is joy in acknowledging your achievements - as small and minor as they may be in the big scheme of things.
A first walk. A gratefulness for a body that works. A stroll with a friend. A pound lost.
Have hope, be thankful. Keep going.
There is Comfort in knowing you are being kind to yourself by protecting yourself from potential illnesses.
There is Comfort as you learn to love yourself again and your incredible body.
There is Comfort when you acknowledge the magnificent wonder that it is, and how well it has served you and yours.
Those tree trunk legs helped carry you through the tough times, they were the pillars that your children grew on.
That jelly belly was the world for the babies and also a cushion for sleeping infants and children.
Those flapping arms have hugged and loved and carried and cooked and cleaned and served.
That tried overloaded back kept it together to get the job done - complaining quietly of an evening, hoping you were listening.
And despite all the abuse that it's had directed at it - yet still it works as best as it can to serve.
It IS then MY responsibility to care for me, to feed and nurture body and soul to the best of my ability.
It IS in MY control to forgive, to move on, to remove the blanket of food and replace it with health, hope and enjoyment.
Life is a journey and maybe I've lost the map a few times but I've found it again. I'm back. I'm here.
Follow your plan, to your tune, and let go of the demons of past and of negativity.
Keep hopeful.
You were made to live, to breathe with ease.
Regain health, regain joy.
Stop being afraid, be what you want to be!