Saturday, March 19, 2016

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I'm keeping track of what I eat as I try to lose weight.  Last night I was guesstimating about the points and amount I ate because we ate out for lunch and I hadn't measured how many shrimp I put in the salad for dinner.  I could see myself wanting to minimize points and underestimate the amounts and ingredients.  I was going to lie so I could feel better about myself and the chart would look good.  The temptation was palpable.  Now, no one is going to see this journal except me.  But I couldn't or wouldn't be honest with myself about what I put in my mouth.  Talk about wrong speech!

What this tells me is how fraught the weight thing is at this moment.  I feel pressured by my health and doctors and good sense to lose the weight and feel better.  I feel equally sorry for myself about missing out on sandwiches and mashed potatoes.  And I feel most upset because I'm sabotaging myself and what I know is best for me.  I'm taking a long hard look at my behavior.  It's not a pretty picture.  It's not mature or self nurturing.  It is, however, a lifelong pattern.  Feeling sorry for myself is familiar and comfortable.  Somewhere deep inside my aging body I am the new kid in school with no friends. 

I'm going to attempt to be brutally honest about what I eat and at the same time keep active with non food comforts like walking and seeing friends and writing.  Eating hasn't yet solved loneliness and sadness.  I'm going to take a wild guess here and say it never will.  And what's so bad about occasional feelings like those?  Everyone has them.  Am I trying to revolt against being human?  I'm actually grateful for my life and yet not acting like it.  I'm going to grow up before I die.  I'm determined.

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