Earlier today as I was microwaving my lean cuisine, my coworker (who totally reminds me of my ex mother-in-law) decided to give me some advice. She told me it was bad for me to eat those every day because of all the sodium and they were making me retain water, etc etc. She always comments on what I eat. When we went out to lunch on Friday I got a roast beef sandwich and she was commenting on how she couldn't believe how I ate the whole thing, she only just eats half of the sandwiches there.
For some reason people feel like they can always comment on the things I eat. It's really hard for me sometimes. Especially because I'm trying to be healthier and I actually have been losing weight. But people don't want to comment on that, they want to focus on things I'm doing wrong.
I went outside and cried really hard to my mom about it. People on the sidewalks were probably like "wow, what is this girl's problem, did someone just die?" haha. But I remembered the article I read this morning from the Ensign talking about how when people hurt our feelings, they almost always are not doing it on purpose. People usually aren't trying to hurt others feelings, although that can happen quite frequently. So later on during my lunch break when she came back to lecture me for 15 mins on what I should be eating, I decided to try and have charity and give her the benefit of the doubt. I told myself she is just trying to help me and maybe she really does care and wants me to eat healthy. I wanted to just say, hey guess what this is actually me doing pretty good eating wise back off! But I just smiled and thanked her for her advice. And when I decided to have charity towards her I actually felt love for her in that moment.
I'm grateful for daily scripture study because it really does help me to keep Christ in mind all day and to try to act as He would act. Like I said before, the small things can really make such a huge difference in your day to day life.
And I will also say it's hard when you don't have a car to go buy groceries with and you don't have any groceries and you have to buy food at CVS and your roommates go to the store without you (ahem, last night). But at least I'm still running!!! ;) And trying to have charity...
5 comments:
Oh Mary, you are such an inspiring person. Every time I read your blog I feel the Spirit. In the sense that the Spirit always encourages us to do better and make certain changes. I feel that way every time I read you blog! Thanks for blogging. And congrats on losing weight!! And keeping up with running! I'm impressed, it's hard to run regularly!
I had two roommates who would always come in and comment on what I ate and a coworker I carpooled with. They were awful to be around...I feel your pain.
Keep up the hard work! Any progress is lots of progress. Good job on being positive too...it's hard when people do that.
Mary this is just what I needed today! I know I haven't left a comment in forever, but I'm still reading every post! Thank you for being so loving. You are such an amazing example of how we can all do hard things... even when those hard things are the exact opposite of what we want to do. Congrats on losing weight! That is so, so exciting. I know you've come a long way. Keep it up! Love you!
People commenting on what others eat is one of my greatest pet peeves (unless it is to say, "Ooo, that looks delicious!"). It is incredibly obnoxious and inappropriate. Our culture is so saturated with nutrition nannies that people seem to think it is okay for them to be nannies themselves and comment on what others are eating. IT IS WRONG and it is unhealthy (it can be triggering for those with eating disorders, it can be triggering for those without eating disorders, it can lead to an unhealthy obsession with food, etc.) and it is wrong. Did I mention it is wrong?
Our culture is so messed up about food. Food is food. That's it. It is not a moral issue. Our culture has attached so much baggage to food, with the nannies and the good food and bad food crap and all that. Since people think [insert pretty much any food item here] is bad, then they feel they can comment because you are doing something wrong. ARGH! There is no such thing as good food or bad food. There is no moral attachment to food. All food is energy, and some food contains more or different nutrients than other foods. That's it. No one has a right to comment on my/your/anyone's food choices. Unless they are my mother and I am a young child and they know everything I've eaten, they know nothing about what nutrients I've received from other meals, nor do they know my medical history and why I'm choosing to eat something in particular. And, the greatest point of all, it is none of their business!
Several years ago I was following a blog of a nutritionist. I remember one of her posts. She was pregnant and on a business trip, so staying in a hotel. The hotel had a very nice breakfast, including an omelet station. She chose an omelet because she wanted the protein, and she wanted to add cheese to it because she wanted the calcium for the wee baby inside her. As she ordered, someone said something about all the calories the cheese adds and how she should avoid it. In her post, she told of how self conscious that made her, how even though she knew she needed the nutrients and had chosen what to eat very deliberately, she found herself second guessing herself. And then she was angry that some jerk, who knew absolutely nothing about her, thought it was appropriate to make his comment.
Anyway... yeah, food is not a moral issue and people need to keep their uninformed opinions to themselves.
XOXO Mary! I am so happy to know you. So blessed by your perspective and willingness to share the process of self-improvement with your blog readers. That crazy lady doesn't know what she's talk about :)
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