What are the Holidays REALLY all about?

I posted this on the WWers website tonight and thought it was good enough to pop into my blog.

I've been thinking about this a lot this year. I read the posts online here, and in my message groups. So many people are so worried about food. Yes, I know that's natural and I'm not judging, but I'd like to help us all put it into perspective.

Here are things that we have to deal with over the holidays:

-family -friends -new loves -old flames -colors -lights -music -scents -travel -gift giving -gift getting -laughter -tears -snow flurries -new sweaters -holiday clothes -crowded malls -making memories -reliving tradition -welcoming new family members -mourning passed loved ones -taking pictures -looking through photo albums -holiday carols -christmas cards -social events -God -food

Now what do we concentrate on the most on that list? Food! Food is one of (gotta go back and count) 28 items on that list, and I'm sure I missed some! Yet we elevate it to this level where we worry about it, we stress over it, we decide to derail our weight loss efforts due to it, we make excuses for it, and we end up miserable.

Let's really strive this season to concentrate on all of the OTHER things that the holidays mean to us. Your list may be different from mine, but make your list anyhow...your list of blessings of the season. Let's not even put food ON that list. Let meals be just that, meals...not events. Let the company, the laughter, the activities, and the memories be the most important parts of our holiday celebrations!

I am Thankful...

...that Craig is thankful. And Craig is thankful that Kendra is thankful...

Sigh. I missed that this year but I was sitting here and realizing that I have a heck of a lot to be thankful for this year.

So here is my list...I'd love to hear everyone else's.

1. I am thankful for my family and my friends who supported me, loved me, prayed for me, visited me (even when I was boring, ugly, and smelly lying in my hospital bed), hung out with me at home when I was on "bleeding watch", took me to my doctor appointments, cooked for me, supported Roy, sent cards, HUNDREDS of emails, and thousands of happy thoughts my way when I was sick. I truly would not have made it through that without all of you all's love and support.

2. I am thankful that I am healthy and am able to do things I never thought I'd do.

3. I am thankful that I have a job that I love, even if it isn't all sunshine and roses right now.

4. I am thankful that God has put wonderful kids into my life.

5. I am thankful for the opportunity to get so close to the people I work with in my staff during the strike this year.

6. I am even more thankful that I am no longer on strike.

7. I am thankful that many of my former students still keep in touch with me and keep me updated on their lives. Nothing warms an old teacher's heart more than when a former student emails you for help on their college homework, or leaves a note on your front door.

8. I am eternally thankful that God brought me Roy. He started our Christmas season with a bang yesterday! He got up early to brave the morning sales, and let me sleep in. We then headed to Seattle for the Christmas parade. After lunch he surprised me with a 20th anniversary viewing of the Pacific Northwest Ballet Nutcracker. We saw the first time they performed the Maurice Sendack/Kent Stowall version 20 years ago with my family, so it was especially memorable. After that we did some shopping and watched the tree lighting at Westlake Center. Lots of good music (including original American Idol finalist Jim Verraro. Then we finished up the evening with the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. Oh my GOSH we were tired, but it was a great way to start off our Christmas season. After almost 20 years, he's still got it!

9. I am thankful for being able to find happiness and satisfaction, most of the time, in what I've been given.

10. I am thankful for God's love.

Obsessed? Who Me? Who Said Anything About Being Obsessed? Is That How You Spell Obsessed?

Okay from the "I'm just saying this as an excuse to keep from having to do anything myself" school, there has been a thread I've been reading about being obsessed with exercise. One person walked five miles and feared that he was becoming obsessed with exercise. (Actually it was probably just an excuse to brag a little. No judgement here. I'm guilty of it myself.)

So of course someone follows up with "You're right. You certainly do NOT want to become obsessed with exercise! It's not good to become obsessed with anything.

And the next person intoned that it was dangerous to replace a bad obsession with a good one. (Because heaven forbid someone get a little obsessed over doing something healthy for awhile.)

Then of course the bandwagon jumpers leapt into the air with a chorus of "me toos" and "yes, I agrees" and "oh you're so rights".

I think this are a few things at work here. First of all, if we look at what someone else is doing and we don't feel we want to or can do it, it's very liberating to say "Yeah, he works out an hour a day, but he's obsessed and that's bad and I'm not obsessed because I only work out an hour a month on a good month. Therefore he is bad and I am good and I have just rationalized my way out of exercise for a few days! Sweet!"

I also think some people look at the very idea of walking five miles as something they can never do. I know when I was a couch potato the idea of working out an hour and a half a week, much less a day, made me absolutely drop over dead at the thought. It wasn't that I thought people who did were obsessed...okay, maybe I thought they were a little off in the head, but not obsessed per se. It was just that it was not something I could ever envision me doing, so it seemed an excessive amount of exercise.

Of course there is also the message that we get from the media over and over again that all you need to do is exercise 30 minutes 3 times a week to be fit. I don't think doing that is a bad thing, but I also don't think it's enough. In fact a recent study came out suggesting that you exercise 60 minutes a day every day for optimal health.

Then of course there is always my favorite group of people, the bandwagon-jumpers leaping gleefully into the air. Tomorrow I could write a post that said I work out an hour a day and I feel that is a healthy and wonderful thing to do and I bet you anything, some of the wagoneers would jump up and gleefully proclaim "me too!" "I agree!" "you rock!" (They may be wagoneers, but they aren't stupid...I do rock.)

Exercising an hour a day is not obsessive, it is good time management and a healthy balance. AFter all, that's only 1/24th of each day spent in the gym. For me it is an appointment with myself that I will not break. Honestly. If someone asks me if I can do something after work that day I say "No I'm sorry, I have an appointment." I'm not lying. I do. My appointment is with me and it is as important as an appointment with someone else. Actually, it's more important for my mental health and my physical health.

So I say if you want to be obsessed with doing healthy things, go for it and let the nay sayers say nay. You need approval from only one person...you.