Bad Days

 

(Originally published 23 February 2011)

I really know I'm making progress now. Work was OK, but it's been a rough evening at home. Frustration and disappointment over vacation planning issues, with more frustration and disappointment over the failure of the new resistance cord DVD to offer modifications for stiff knees.

In the old days, any stress at work or in life was an excuse to buy and consume comfort food—in my case wine and chips, or other high-fat foods. Not this evening. OK, I switched from salad to soup, but chopped and added fresh veggies before emptying the can of soup into the pot. I made sure I was maintaining my Oases of Order (those small sections of real estate I have liberated from clutter) in the kitchen while I cooked. I cleaned the litterbox (one of my daily routines I'm establishing) and put in my (minimum) organizing time in order to fulfill my Babysteps Brigade team challenge activity and earn my corresponding Other Goal point.

I wasn't as joyful or energetic carrying out these tasks as I can be on really great days. And I knew I had a choice to take these babysteps or not. But I really didn't want to give up on myself and my program—not even on a "bad day." So I didn't blow anything off; I didn't indulge; there is still an unopened box of See's truffles, a package of Pepperidge Farms soft baked cookies and a box of rosemary and olive oil Triscuits in the apartment! I didn't need to drown my feelings in sugar, alcohol, fat or salt. And I feel pretty good about that!

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