There are a lot of different things I could title this post. Traditions Can Change; Abandoning Tradition; Choosing Wellbeing Before Cookies; Holiday Health. They all came to mind when I opened up the window to start writing. Here’s what’s going on.
I always travel to the Northeast to spend the Christmas holiday with my brother, sister-in-law and nephews, and also to see as many friends and other family members as possible. A couple of weeks before I fly up, I ship my family’s gifts so I don’t need to lug them on the plane. For the last few years, I also rekindled a family tradition of baking delicious Italian fig and date cookies. My grandmother made them for us every year for all of my life that I can remember. When she passed away, Mom and I continued the tradition.
Sometimes, I bake them once I get to my brother and sister-in-law’s house, but there isn’t going to be time this year. So, I thought I’d make them today, seal them up really tight, and ship them with the presents. (I know the cookies will not go stale if packaged correctly. My grandmother once sent a batch from New Jersey to France when we lived there for a year. They were perfect on arrival and this was in the days before overnight or even two-night shipping.
I added the ingredients to my weekly shopping list and off to the store I drove. I even bought a new rolling pin and pastry mat to help with the baking. That’s how fully engrossed in the holiday fa-la-la I was this morning, anticipating the process and reveling in continuing the tradition.
In my head, I had everything planned. I could envision myself happily wrapping gifts while the aroma of melty-fig cookies perfumed my house. Then, a funny unexpected thing happened on the drive home from the supermarket. An alien thought entered my head that said, “You know what? I don’t really want to bake those cookies today.”
This really surprised me and it triggered not only an internal debate, but also a scramble of different emotions. Happiness that I acknowledged that I didn’t want to bake. Guilt that I didn’t. A healthy dash of, “Oh, but you should!” spiced the mix, sharpened by the trepidation of knowing that I would overeat samples of the cookies.
I went back and forth on the decision a couple of dozen times. Bake, don’t bake. Yes, no. Do it, don’t. Thankfully, when I pulled into the driveway, the wise voice overrode the clamor. It said, “It’s okay. You don’t have to bake the cookies, and you don’t need to feel bad that you don’t want to. The family enjoys them but they aren’t holding their collective breath waiting for them. What’s more, they might like the cookies but they love you. They’ll be happier that you’re making the choice you need to make for yourself.”
That was the decision maker. I’m in a good place right now with my food plan, eating, and exercise routine. I know if I start baking today, I’m going to throw myself off. Changing my mind about making cookies is not only okay, it’s the right, healthy choice.
I’m so glad that I listened to that first thought when it popped up and that I didn’t let the other thoughts and emotions overrule my instinct.
Holiday and family traditions are wonderful things, but they don’t take priority over healthy choices. In fact, me making healthy choices is a new tradition in itself.
Weighty Matters 
So much stress would be avoided if everyone was able to read, understand and follow your last two sentences. I may add them to my holiday cards. :>)