September 27, 2009 Diet Blog

Well today I slept in pretty late. Actually I got up and then went back to bed. I was out very late as you know. My husband has a terrible cold. He wasn't really into getting up early either. I felt pretty low most of the day, although I tried to fight it because my feeling bad or beating myself up over a bad diet day isn't going to change it.
I did get a lift in spirits when I heard from my pregnant co-worker. She text me that she is in labor and her water broke. You want to talk about timing? She left work Friday thinking it would be two more weeks before she gave birth. She had intentions of setting things up and visiting us on Thursday for lunch. How funny! Life is what happens while we are making other plans as they say.
Speaking of life- I received a lovely gift from the Lord today. Let me explain...
I was feeling very low as I mentioned. I was literally engaged in that war in my head every waking moment of my day. The news about my friend was a lift but not a total turn around in my mood, sadly. I went to the grocery store and of course I purchased all of the necessary items for my diet. I did great.
I was on the checkout line behind a woman with an order about as large as mine. She was clearly distraught. She was emptying out her purse and she just looked so upset. Her hand was full of small change. I couldn't help but take notice. I listened to her trying to explain to the cashier that she had thought she had enough of money for her purchase. The young cashier was very polite but had that look of :
'oh crap! Now I have to void out this order and start over.'
You know the look. We've all seen it at one time or another haven't we?
I stuck my nose in and asked the embarrassed woman gently how much she was short of her bill.
$7.
$7 stupid dollars.
I handed her $7. You'd have thought I gave her a brick of gold because she was that happy. She thanked me profusely and asked how she could get it back to me. It was $7 dollars, not $700. I told her to 'pay it forward,' which means to help someone out down the line who is in need. She agreed. She left the grocery store feeling good. The cashier also felt good. A wave of relief came over her sweet face. I paid for my order, packed it up and left. So my grocery bill came to $179 instead of $172.
I bring this up, not for kudos. It was a random act of kindness- nothing more. It was the gift that I got out of it that I wanted to share with you. I think that I was feeling so low that the Lord gave me a deterrent so that I would feel better. By helping her, I made myself feel good. I got to leave that store knowing that two people were better off for having crossed my path today. That feels so nice. My spirits are so lifted and I feel good about myself. Okay; so the package my heart comes in isn't so beautiful right now. It'll get there. But the inside of me is still beautiful. We tend to forget that no matter what size our butt is; our heart stays the same size. We really are beautiful. The Lord doesn't make ugly people. Some of us just radiate it from within. That's the message that I want to share with you on this day.
I had oatmeal for breakfast. I'm making chicken breast on wheat bagels with lettuce, tomato and a smidgen of light mayonnaise for my hubby and I as dinner. That's my entire day of food. I wasn't kidding when I told you I was feeling low-low-low.
The message for me from heaven, the angels, the universe and our sweet Lord was that real beauty is found within. We are not alone in our quest to pretty up the package a bit but when it's all boiled down to nothing, we will be remembered for things we did to help others out. I don't think either of those women looked at me and saw a fat ugly person today. In fact, both of those women will not remember me at all most likely, but they will remember the story. They will remember the feeling. Do you understand?
I'll sign off on that note reminding us that WE look as good as we can for today! Tomorrow WE will look that much better! Let's not let our perception of our bodies stand in the way of us having a good time! Stay positive! I'll see you tomorrow! ;-)