Be Your Own Mom

When I was a kid, I remember several occasions where I refused to eat a piece of fruit because it was bruised. I'd look at an apple, pear, banana or peach and think "gross! I'm not eating it that way!"

My mom would tell me nothing was wrong with it. I didn't believe her. She said if I were to eat it with my eyes closed I couldn't tell if it was bruised or not. I didn't believe her. Inevitably, my mom would take a bite of that bruised fruit just to show me that it was okay. I still didn't believe her.

Now don't get me wrong ... my mom is completely trustworthy (she's awesome that way). I'm just a picky eater and had a hard time getting past that bruise. I don't know how many times my mom got to eat a piece of unbruised fruit. She took one for the team so often I wonder if she looks at a piece of unblemished fruit and thinks "gross! I'm not eating it that way!"

You might be thinking of making some resolutions for the new year. That's admirable. I'll toss out a suggestion for you ... this year I'd like you to considering being your own mom.

 Things like exercise, eating right, being accountable to friends for your health and wellness can be really unpleasant and difficult, especially when you're just starting out. The first month is really hard, and that's when a lot of resolutions die. When you're tempted to look at the hardships and give up, consider it to be a bruised piece of fruit.

You know you will benefit from it. You know it is good for you, even if it doesn't look that way sometimes. Maybe you need to just close your eyes, suck it up and plunge forward with your workout, meal prep and food journal. Give yourself the "you can do it" pep talk ... just like mom.

It's even okay to get a little frustrated with yourself. Sometimes those little fruit sessions would devolve into me stubbornly asserting "no, I absolutely won't eat it. You can't make me." If you guessed that never worked out too well for me ... well, you'd be right. Be your mom and don't take no for answer.

So ... as the new year progresses and you see a piece of bruised fruit, may it remind you of a great example and inspire you to continue pressing onward!