“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”
“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh
“What do you say, Piglet?”
“I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet
Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said.

~A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

I found this quote from Winnie the Pooh, a book I read many times over the years to my now grown children, as I was cleaning out my desk and wondered: how many of you can relate to Pooh? How many of you eat for excitement? Does food break the boredom and add some “fun” into your day or evening? And how many of you would like to use food for nourishment and, yes, for enjoyment but not necessarily for “excitement”?

If this speaks to you, begin with awareness: when do I use food for excitement and how might I face my need for something fun to happen and choose a different behavior…such as creating an exciting adventure of some sort, big or small, lengthy or short…something not involving food? Ask yourself: what draws me? What interests me? What is within reach, perhaps, that could be enlivening, inspirational and even fun?

While the holidays ahead offer more activities that involve food and beverage, what if you used each situation as an opportunity to ‘make a different choice’ – enjoy a bit of the offerings while focusing on a conversation, offering to help, getting to know a child? Begin practicing awareness and wise choice: the urge may be there to overeat or drink – notice it – and then remember your wholeness, expansiveness and all of the places of strength from which to make choices.

Habits are changed one step at a time and transformation is possible always: becoming stronger and healthier by making one life-affirming choice after another. Why not start now? Sit quietly for 10 or 15 minutes and let ideas come to you…trust yourself…and then begin having fun by doing something other than eating or drinking. Seize the season! Think of something right now that would bring merriment and excitement and take the first step.

Happy holidays to all!