Second chances can be a wonderful thing. Case in point: The Husband and I were together many moons ago, and reunited about five years ago. In the intervening years, we grew and changed in ways that made our partnership what it is today.....which is awesome, by the way.
In the past, I have been the Queen of the Infinite Second Chance.....several times to my detriment. It's painful to give chance after chance to others, optimistic and looking for the good, only to have them squashed. I'm not casting blame; if anything, I'm owning it. I know there have been times that I held on too long, tried too hard, took too much responsibility for the relationship. I have better boundaries than I used to, and am better at letting go of stuff and relationships, although I've had some challenges in that area lately. More FGOs (Fucking Growth Opportunities, dear hearts)!
But I am still the Queen of the Infinite Second Chance when it comes to this lifestyle. I've been bad, bad, bad this past week and I can tell! My food has been terrible and my exercise non-existent. I feel sluggish and bloated. Ugh. But, as Scarlett said, "Tamarah is anothah day."
Personally, I wish there really was a magic bullet for health. I'd take it in a heartbeat; but I've done all that in the past. I've taken all the pills, consumed the shakes and prepared meals, took the classes, tried the programs...... Sadly, after all that experimentation, it's obvious that, for me, regular exercise and a low/no gluten, low/no sugar diet works best.
I could beat myself up for my failures and setbacks, or I can cut myself some slack.....just like I do everyone else. I can show myself some grace and compassion. And I can give myself another second chance.
Where do you stand on extending second chances? Can you offer them too often? Do you give yourself grace?
Have you been there?
Taking on such an extreme diet is really a whole lifestyle change. These things take time. You are going to miss a few steps sometimes and you will feel the repercussions when that happens. If anyone is going to suffer, it's you. So, you don't need the added self-criticism that comes with it. I have a gluten allergy and when I decide to have something I know will bother me, then I do it, suffer from it and move on. I will learn from it and I do, but it takes time, patience and forgiveness. You'll get to where you need to be if you want to get there. It sounds like you do and you're on a pretty good path already.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the validation! Time, patience and forgiveness.....you're so right!
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