I had a lot of conversations on the bike with different people last week. I had a lot of time to think as well. I think I’m a negative thinker. I was checking in with myself on all the thoughts and comments I had and was mortified that my attitude was cynical and contrary a lot of the time. This is my new goal for the next year … to be less opposing and negative. I remember once an employee, who was known for being negative, complained about something and clarified to all around “it’s not just me, everyone feels this way.” I think if I peeled back the reasons for my complaining, it would come around to my feeling that I am doing the public good in pointing out the inherent negative in the situation. Um, hello, not really; complaining about everything isn’t a positive attribute in anyone.
I bought chips the other day because I justified and rationalized that since I road 450 miles I could afford to eat a full bag of chips. I ate half, and then threw coffee grounds on the rest. This is what happens when you claim “success” at the end of a journey. It’s like if we, at the end of the year said with our goals – we hit 95% on Patient Satisfaction, “we can now rest and ignore the patients”. We don’t do that because here “it’s the right thing to do, always”. Same with exercise and diet – if it is the right thing to do, acknowledge the journey, but don’t claim success. The journey never ends; it might just look a little different.
So back on the chips. I’ve heard “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”. Ruffles and onion dip do. I love chips and dip. Love. Will I give them up forever? No – I don’t want to try a diet where I have to cut out something completely; this will not work for me. (I will lie in bed craving that one thing that I cannot have.) Living life is about tasting and doing all the great things that have been provided to us – in moderation. The Family Size bag of Ruffles, maybe not. The constant contrary negative perspective? Sometimes, a differing opinion is warranted … but in a loving way.
Your journey is your journey. Have a great time, but remember it is never over until it is truly over.