I’m on vacation visiting my family, as I write this blog. And you know what time with family means—food, food, food! In my mom’s guest bathroom, an old, rusty scale leers at me: “Step on me. I dare ya!” So far, I have resisted, partly out of fear, partly out of resentment.
Weight management is a life-long process. I have no doubts that I will be looking askance at the scale every day of my life. Why the push and pull? On one hand, I want to know how I am doing; on the other hand, I have butterflies in my stomach, wondering what the scale will reveal about my value as a human being. And isn’t that silly!
The mind plays tricks on you. My mind says to me: “You are fine, you don’t have to worry that you’ve put on weight,” or “Bet you’re up five pounds, fatty!” But the scale can be relied on to provide objective data. It’s a dumb machine, a one-trick pony, that can only provide you with one piece of data about yourself: your mass today.
Evaluating my life, I realize that my mass today is only a tiny component of who I am. I am partner to a fabulous woman who makes every day an adventure. I am daughter to a mother who, at 99, is still vibrant and fun, if a little confused. I am sister to my writing partner and dearest friend who holds a mirror up to me everyday and says, “This is the you I see.” My life is rich beyond words and far more complicated that the number on the rusty old scale.
The takeaway is this: You are more, much more, that one data point. Life is rich and meant to be savored. Start each day with joy and gratitude, and put the scale in its proper place—way down the list in order of importance.
Stop Losing and Win 