My last post was about carrots. Not the vegetable, but the concept. This week I want to celebrate finishing something: labels in the studio!
And while I was at it, I put sealer on these new drawers from Ikea
and put label holders on those too. Then I installed them. Major completion here.
What I wanted next was chocolate.
Since I’ve successfully given up refined sugar, not out of virtuosity, but out of the recognition of how it makes me feel, and I was quite pleased to find a chocolate bar sweetened with Stevia. It tasted really good. So I ate a lot of it… and then some more… and then daily NEEDED to have it.
I know myself well enough to recognize when I have gone over the edge. When a celebratory decadence has become an addiction. And I noticed that my digestion was suffering.
So I made my own chocolate. Just three ingredients: chocolate powder, coconut butter and a small amount of honey… rich and delicious…enough so that I didn’t want much of it. But even that small amount of sweetener affected me unpleasantly. Forced me to confront the real issue at hand: I grew up with sweets after every meal, sweets as snacks in between and sweets before bedtime. My day doesn’t feel complete without dessert.
And when I want to celebrate? Sweets please.
The more I feed the sweet monster, the more that monster wants. So what is the healthy habit to cultivate? Maybe it’s like the finishing motivator…I need to find a new way to treat myself. Something that is sweet in concept. Something that might even be a healthy thing to repeat. I don’t have the answer yet, but I’m paying attention.
How about you? How do you reward yourself?
Stella Sunday Afternoons 
Hi Jeannie, This is an issue that I’ve been wrestling too. Trying to think of a way to celebrate a project finished, or a being with friends that doesn’t include alcohol. Doctor’s orders. Have cut back considerably, but that attitude adjustment hour: Miller time has a strong call. And of course struggling with sweets too. Just have to be patient with myself, I guess. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing Martha! We bond to others through shared rituals like alcohol and sweets so that caring for ourselves can also feel like a betrayal of friendship!! Let’s start some new rituals!!!