Recently, when listening to a speaker on improving health habits, I heard a phrase that really rang true for me.
The nutrition expert offered the audience a simple guideline to use when making food choices: “Please don’t bring bad food into this body.”
The phrase struck me because it was such a simple, non-judgmental way to remind us all that we have choices. We can grab a bag of lunch at the nearest greasy fast-food joint or we can go to all the trouble of choosing something fresh. But the concept has use far beyond our diets.
Whether or not we choose to think about it, our day-to-day lives are full of choices. Fast food or fresh. Anger or forgiveness. Self pity or service to others.
Every thought or feeling, in every moment, can be something that we choose.
Heady? Mabybe. But think about the choices that you will have today. You’ve already chosen to get up. And to read the paper. There, that’s two. We can also make choices about the company we keep–are our friendships “give and take?” Are the people we invest our time with those on whom we can rely when we need something? Do they pick us up when we’re down? or just “pile on” with the rest of the world? We all have choices about the people with whom we spend our time.
What about families? Even if they’re far away, you can connect with kids and grandkids in lots of positive ways. For example, soon you’ll be hearing more about “ethical wills”–these are not documents about how we want to die, but instead, collections of thoughts and stories that will help those we leave behind know what mattered to us.
There are people who think that they have a choice about nothing … and those who think that they have a choice about everything. I think that the truth is somewhere in between. We may not always like the things that happen to or around us, but we can always choose not to waste the opportunities for learning that they provide.
Please don’t bring junk food thoughts like “I can’t, I’m too old” into this head.
Lawrence Bienemann is a program coordinator for RSVP in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. He also speaks and writes about issues related to aging well and can be reached by e-mail at lawrenceb@rcn.com.
