Mindset

Ah, Saturday. A day off--at least from my day job. I sat down at the computer this morning to reread three chapters, snynopsis and questionaire I need to send in to a publisher. I need to finish up my Father's Day story, am waiting for an author to send me her edited story, another author to send her entire edited manuscript for a final read, and have 1,000 words to write on my current novel by tomorrow's end. Mother's Day is tomorrow and my mind drifts to food. What can I eat?

Hold on, don't go there. Food is not the answer to stress (or so I try to tell myself). It's easier on days when I have to go to work. It forces me to plan ahead and know ahead of time what I'll have for breakfast and lunch. Today, because I have time off, I tended to fall back into the mindset of grazing through the day. You know what I mean, a snack here a snack there offering pleasure to my tongue and unnecessary empty calories to my bloodstream where they unite to build fat cells looking for a place to settle down and stake claim. They post a little flag that says, here lies the result stress. One stressful day on top of another leads to a great excuse for the mounds that grow into giggly flesh beneath bigger shirts.

Instead, I made a plan and went out for a 60 minute walk. I pondered the work I have to get done and the dilemma Mother's Day presents as it pulls me in more than one direction. Walking relieved the stress. I returned to finish up my writing a task at a time. Mother's Day is out of my control. Eating junk food will not change that fact. Recognizing the battle before I succumb is a great victory.