Today I made a decision. That decision was to steal some chocolate… From myself.
A Little Indulgence
Although I am far from perfect, I do try to include a lot of healthy foods in my diet. I avoid certain foods, and other foods I try to have only as an occasional treat.
But one thing I allow myself to have after breakfast, lunch, and dinner is one square of dark chocolate. No matter how pristine I make my diet that day, that one piece of chocolate is my treat. If I know I’m going one hundred percent clean in my meals, I can still look forward to that indulgence.
A Tough Day
It was a tough day. Really tough. I had been dealing with some negative thoughts since writing a post where I felt very exposed. The week had been tough to begin with, between travel and a failed video card in my computer. It was made somewhat better by an amazing customer service experience.
So I decided to have a square of chocolate, a square I would break off from a full bar. And when I did, the break wasn’t clean: The piece I broke off included an extra portion… Almost a third of a second piece. “Bonus!” I thought as I popped it in my mouth.
Before the morsel had touched my lips, I became aware of the reality: this was no bonus. This was a loan. Sure, I may have gained an extra amount of dessert today, but that only means I will lose an equal amount in the future. The amount of chocolate was fixed. There was never any extra to have; there was only the amount I stole out of my future hands.
Be a Saver
It’s only a small bit of chocolate. I get it. But the truth is the same: many times we will have the opportunity to steal from ourselves. We can take time or skills or money from ourselves by not applying our time wisely today. There are times when we could be working, learning, saving, or even building relationships, but instead we may be wasting time and resources.
As an alternative, let’s make the most of today, and leave that little bit extra for tomorrow. It has a way of growing and expanding and making more for us in the future. That way we can enjoy tomorrow what we were able to save today.
