by Cary Fyfe

My refrigerator is so happy. It houses “re-boot” yogurt, berries galore, green this, green that — it’s a virtual St. Patrick’s Day in there!  Oh…and the beloved cranberry juice. Just looking in there makes me feel healthy!

Cotton candy grapes: you can have your cake and eat it too!

I say that because while I see myself as a “clean eater,” my fridge doesn’t usually look like this. Until a week ago, I thought avocados were a vegetable…that one sank me for a bit, since sometimes, that is the only green I eat all day. So off I went, making time to grocery shop (another new horizon), to gift my body a vacation from myself. And after a few steps into this brave journey, WOW. My heart doesn’t have to palpitate each morning, as it does when I have my 15 minutes of clarity and energy post-Joe.  My stomach doesn’t have to settle and re-group after each meal…it’s as happy as my fridge now, all calm waters and sunshine in there! And I really do feel clean. Clean…as in clear, energetic, content, happy that I’m taking care of my little house in which my soul resides.

Re-booting in Fort Worth with friends-who-knew-me-when

So now the human part…I haven’t stayed on the tracks every day. I traveled to be with friends-who-knew-me-when, and I stayed quiet about what I was doing. While I anticipated some stress in that — ordering differently, not going with the group, saying no to dessert — which would raise some eyebrows — I found it a friendly challenge to stay true. Well, “true.”  I was careful about what I ate, I looked at ingredients before I plunged in, and no one pegged me as a freak…nobody noticed! I did…please forgive me…have a glass of wine. My cranberry water overheated when I left it in my car. My exercise was walking around town with friends, talking lots and laughing lots. And I did have an epiphany moment…I HAVE A STOP BUTTON! Who knew??? My taken-for-granted body finally had a voice that got through to my age-old habits, and it gently said “Sweetie, we feel nice, happy and full now, so let’s sit back and enjoy the conversation.”

I raise my glass (cranberry water, I swear!!) to each of you who are braving this adventure more wholly than I, who are taking sweet care of your precious self, and who inspire me to do the same.

CHEERS!!!

Only 3 more days to go, you can do it!