Wow almost a year here! this is the longest I've done any sort of eating plan (for the most part) consistantly.

 

I've been going through and reading all my old entries to gauge how and if I've changed since I started.

 

It's been a rough year in some ways. I had to adjust to all different kinds of stresses and situations. Many would have tipped me over the brink and given me an excuse to binge out. But the strength and support of this site and the people here have really been an anchor for me.

 

I am little different I think in some ways, and in other ways I'm not. I hope the differences, on the whole, are positive and I've been able to help a few people along the way.

 

I try to keep saying to myself, "Keep the faith, what ever positive faith you have and take care of your wee self, the rest will take care of itself."

 

The "holidays" are upon us, deluging us with subliminal messages in all forms of media.

 

The socially inposed pressures this season brings is beyond the banana.

I keep trying to figure out why I despise this time of year and why it's mixed up with so many parts of it I really like.

I realized what I really liked was things that were intangible and the things I despised were the obligations of expected politeness masquerading as plastic masks of civility and imposed threats of doom for non-compliance.

 

Personally I choose to keep the mind set of remembering why the old Pagans valued this season.

 

Before all the science was known about the earth's angle and trip around the sun ect, all they knew was the days were getting shorter and shorter and colder and colder. For all they knew the world and their lives were coming to an end aong with the ones they loved so they held them close to make sure they each knew how important they were to each other in case they woke the next day and the sun didn't.

Then one day, the sun came up a little earlier and stayed up a little longer and Hope was consumated. They may have been given a reprieve from the end of everything!!! They celebrated the rebirth of the sun, and their lives had been given another chance!! Oh Joy... Rapture!!!!

 

Today, we live in a world where any maniac with a key to a nuclear bomb could bring about the REAL end of the world.  

 

So the while the season's original message has been buried under X-ain philosphy and dulled by daily terrorist threats, blanketed by consumer-commercialism and glitz and mind numbing entertainment, I choose, during this season to wrap my mind and spirit around the original pagan feelings about Solstice and find peace and joy in their experience and thank the God and Goddess for another chance.

 

And I'm hoping to try harder this time to be a good toad and to better love those around me, who, without the rebirth of the sun would be meat popsicles.

 

Pass the Lite egg nog....Cheers!

Qyz