Looking for Inspiration

Hello, my lovely people. I have been on hiatus. Or, more accurately probably, in hibernation.

I have been searching for inspiration. And not finding much.

Like most creative types I look to my surroundings, people, God, music, art, nature, happenings, and the randomness of my own mind. I read. A lot. I’ve even done a little reading on the creative process itself.

And I’m always observing. Do you feel at all like you’re being watched?

I read an article yesterday naming my state as dead last in the “percentage of people who report eating healthy” category. Healthy eating in this case was defined as consuming at least five servings of produce at least four days a week. A decent enough measure. And somewhat disheartening.

By produce they mean fruits and vegetables. Presumably of any type. (I traced down the Gallup source.) So a half cup of processed pizza sauce, as offensive as it may be to Food Nazis, would be a serving of vegetables. I couldn’t figure out if French fries count. Hint – in my world they do not.

Not that I never eat them. I do. But they’re in the starch/bread/carb group. And a treat, not a daily occurrence.

So anyway.

Most people by now have thrown in the towel on their New Year’s get healthy resolutions. Resolutions, wishes, hopes and dreams … you make the call. Kudos to you if you’re still going strong or have caught a second wind with the start of Lent.

A lot of people seem to think perfection and complexity are required. They’re not. Healthier choices more often than not consistently over time is what it takes.

Sort of an aside … I was listening to a radio conversation the other day between two people who share one of my pesky health issues. I don’t deny they have problems – I understand first-hand the deal – but a couple things struck me about what they said. They both acknowledged struggling with obesity, but they brushed over the role it might play in their condition or more specifically the role it might play in worsening their health and ability to deal with symptoms. They also talked about using the motorized scooter at the store. Granted, they’re both older than me, but there seemed to be a resignation to this being their lot in life.

It was depressing. I had to turn it off before it was over.

So many of us treat our health and wellness like it’s out of our control, hopeless, and a done deal. It’s not! Don’t let our culture, your own mind, or those who don’t know any better tell you otherwise.