My life isn't particularly complicated. I've been rockin' along just as if I had good sense. That was about to change.
It began at work. We were discussing two of my favorite subjects -- books and food. Actually, it was a conversation about a book about food. He said he was reading a book that totally changed the way he thinks about food. Hmmm....that got my attention. I thought -- that's got to be one powerful book. Maybe I need to find out about this. I got the book.
The book is called The Omnivore's Dilemma. The author is Michael Pollan. It's a fascinating book written by an investigative reporter, with a different perspective. It's about food and the choices we make about the food we eat. It was a good read. It was entertaining. It was insightful. The book stuck with me -- it bothered me -- a lot.
I realized I started to change the way I think about the food choices I make. I began to have trouble when I went to the grocery store. It started to get complicated.
Yeah...yeah...I already know the "rules" about eating right. Most of us do. I'm a lifetime member of Weight Watchers. I followed the program and I reached my goal -- once. I know how to write down what I put in my mouth, count those points, and buy the "right" healthy foods. I know all that stuff and I have no excuse. I'm a WW Backslider.
I also already know about exercising and taking care of myself. I've been busy. I've been stressed. I don't care. I don't have time. I'm working. I have things to do. Leave me alone. I can't. I won't. I used all those "reasons" but it began to nag at me. Eventually...I knew I'd have to do something -- but I wasn't there yet. I got a push.
My massage therapist called. She wanted me to join her and a bunch of other women who were taking water aerobics classes. She said she just knew I'd love it. She said she just knew I'd have a great time. She said she just knew I'd be excited about doing this. I told her she needed to get a grip. She asked me to think about it. I told her I would. I didn't even own a bathing suit. She helped to complicate my life a little more.
A week or so later, I was on my way to an art show/reception. I was early. It was raining. I decided I had time to run over to -- the store most of us dislike but the store most of us shop in -- to see if they had bathing suits. They did. I actually went into the dressing room to try them on.
Remove the children from the room. This is graphic. I saw myself in the mirror. It was my head, my neck and my arms. The rest of that body in the mirror -- wasn't mine. It was someone else's fat, out-of-shape body. I "wintered well" -- for a number of winters. It was a wrenching experience. I bought one. I'm glad it was raining because no one noticed I was crying when I walked back to the car.
I couldn't bring myself to wear that bathing suit. It was awful. It was cheap, skirted, and made out of some ugly, shiny black fabric. The next day, I promptly returned the suit and I went to another store. Two things were different: it wasn't raining and the suits were more expensive. I found one that I thought I could live with -- without gagging. It was still painful and depressing.
Remember I said I wasn't there yet? Well, trust me on this -- going shopping for a bathing suit -- will get you there in a hurry. I bought a bathing suit. I pre-paid for three months of water aerobics classes. I thought I was going to have a heart attack after the first class -- but I didn't. This might even be okay. (Did I just really say that?)
So, watch what books you buy. A book can complicate your life -- and maybe even in a good way.
Thank you, Michael Pollan!
