Everyone has a vice, right?
It’s that unhealthy habit that you know you probably shouldn’t
do. But you enjoy it! It may also give you comfort, get you through
the day, or perhaps ease your stress or another negative emotion.
I have a vice (or two).
I definitely love my coffee in the morning! In fact, I may even go so far as to say I
NEED my morning coffee. I usually only
have one (large) cup; but, beware, you may not want to talk to me until I've at
least started sipping on that cup! I am
well aware that it is not a particularly healthy option – I know I get jittery
if I drink too much, and I’m aware that if I drink it too late in the day that I
won’t be able to sleep at night. I’ve
learned that exercise and meditation are healthier options to get energized and
ready for the day. However, I can’t help
but prefer to start my day with a hot cup of coffee. (Okay, so I may be a bit addicted to
caffeine!)
As my second vice, I am also a self-proclaimed stress eater. Not only do I just plain enjoy the taste of
food or the social aspect of eating out with a loved one or friend; I also find
food to be a source of comfort when I feel out of balance. As some of you may have noticed, I was
obviously extra stressed about a year or two ago as I dealt with the fact that
my first born child was graduating from high school and heading off to college. While dealing with those emotions, I managed
to gain a quite a few pounds, leaving me down right unhealthy and definitely
overweight. I am proud to say that I
recently lost OVER 50 pounds (and still counting) and I am hoping to never go
back to that unhealthy place again!
Some vices may simply be bad habits, while some can turn
into actual addictions. People can even become
addicted to everyday things such as shopping, golfing (or any hobby), work or
even exercise if done to extreme. Video
games, checking Facebook and binge-watching Netflix can be very addicting as
well. (Let’s turn off that
technology!) Ultimately, any habit can
turn into an addiction if it interferes with your health, relationships or
responsibilities, or otherwise causes you to lose control of what you know to
be right. Of course, eating a slice (or
two) of your favorite pie, watching a whole season of something on Netflix, spending
too much on that pair of shoes, or partying too hard on occasion are all perfectly normal … but we
probably shouldn’t make a daily habit of these things.
Of course, there are also the obvious addictions such as
drugs, alcohol, smoking (or other tobacco use), gambling, etc. Unfortunately, I am familiar with these types
of addiction as well. My dad was both an
alcoholic and a heavy smoker. He died
from lung cancer at the age of 48. I
loved him … I did … but often I did not.
Alcohol addictions (and other addictions) can be hard on those addicted
as well as on those who love them. As I enter the mid-forties myself, I think about how, with hindsight, my father probably
would have wanted to do things differently (for many reasons) and he would
definitely have wanted his loved ones (or anyone reading this blog) to know
that piece of his story and to heed this advice.
Maybe you know someone with an addiction. Maybe it's even you. Maybe you simply think you have a vice or a habit
– and maybe that is true. But remember,
many habits have the potential to become addictions. It is better to nip a bad habit in the bud
now before it is too late, right?
My husband was addicted to chewing tobacco for almost 20
years. I am extremely thankful that he
chose to quit 10 years ago. It
wasn’t easy! He struggled … a lot. He wanted to give up; and he was not an easy
person to live with for a few months while he went through withdrawal. But he did it, and I am very grateful!
You can do it too! As
I aim to continue on my own weight loss and exercise journey, please join me today in setting goals and
making your health a priority. Let go of
your unhealthy habits. Decide to deal
with any negative emotions you may be trying to suppress or relationships you
may be running away from. If needed, have
a conversation with a loved one, a friend, or even a doctor or counselor. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not
weakness, and it can be the first step to getting back to a healthy and happy
you. No excuses – let go of any
denial. If you don’t want to do this for
yourself, then do it for your loved ones.
I am here to tell you that you can do it. You do deserve to be healthy and happy! You just have to take responsibility and
decide to take the first step. Although
today may not be easy, tomorrow (or next month or next year) may be the best
one yet! I know you can be happy tomorrow
if you heed my words of advice, today…
