New Year, New You...Give Me a Break

Every magazine in the check out aisle has some version of "New Year, New You".  As if the tick-tock of Midnight on December 31st unlocks the Houdini straight jacket that I've been living in.  Can you relate to my reference?  I feel that I have been bound by my body, that I have surrounded myself with layers of thick canvas and chains (also known as fat).  And I want the quick fix of a "key" that releases the lock that keeps holding me back.

I've been on a roller coaster since October.  Moments of blissful control, followed by the mindblowing plunge into "I'll eat whatever the hell I want" land.  Whee!  Then the roller coaster slows and begins to click-click-click up the control peak, reaches the top for a split second, then without a moment to catch my breath, I slip off the edge and speed toward the pastry counter.

But the solution is here.  Just read the headlines.  New Year.  New Me.  Yeah. 

I want to buy it.  Sort of.

What I really want is to feel the power of choice.  The power of good choices.  I've felt it before.  But it isn't a quick fix.  The way to gain power is through subtle shifts toward stability, instead of huge swings between good and evil.  Something as simple as "I'm going to eat 1/4 cup of vegtables every day this week" could be the start of a new beginning for me.  That sounds "stupid easy" and I need "stupid easy" to guaruntee I feel successful.

hmmm...so now I'm sitting here thinking 'is that easy enough'?  No judgement, peanut gallery friends.  I'm just being honest with myself.  It isn't the amount, but rather, the preparation.  I need to go to the store, stock the fridge and set myself up for success.  By the way, this new year, new me plan starts tomorrow - Dec. 27th.  I don't need the ticking of a clock to tell me it's time to change.