You choose what goes on your plate
Choose Wisely & Eat Well.
~Melody~
Life is like an all-you-can-eat-buffet. As you stand there with your tray, checking out what all lies in front of you; you see the veggies, cheeses, meats, breads, pasta, and mashed potatoes; all that is good for you. You see the jell-O, salads, cobblers, chocolate brownies, and mounds of assorted side dishes. And you have to decide--how am I going to fit all this on my plate? How do you attack this feast laid before you? The choice is yours to make.
If life truly is an all-you-can-eat-buffet and this analogy holds true, let me suggest to you my method of choosing what goes on my plate for an emotionally healthy diet.
First, I choose that which is necessary to sustain my existence, the basic food groups if you will. Let's face it, we all have to eat some veggies. Broccoli? It's tolerable. Peas? They are 'ok'. Regardless of your taste, you need the basics to be healthy. There are some things in life that we have to do for our own good--may not be fun, may not be tasty, or look appealing. There are just some things that you must do for your own good.
My Basics Include (in no certain order as long as they make it on the plate):
*Work (Falls under this category. Just like asparagus or broccoli, I may not like it, but it is one of those necessary things that must go on my plate if I want to survive.)
*Maintain my Health (I think Health is pretty important, so on the plate it goes!)
*Family Relationships (For me, spending time with family & nurturing those relationships is an important to my emotional health as breathing is to life.)
*My Spirituality (This definitely goes on the plate, to keep me in check! For without spiritual guidance & insight, I would cease to grow and wander off to God knows where!!)
Now, having the basics on my plate, I have plenty of room for what I call the "good stuff". The things that help keep my life happy, emotionally healthy, & satisfying! This is the part where I pick 'what I like' to go on my plate! Why waste time picking things that I didn't like? I don't want a life where I wake up each day, do what I have to do, and no more. I want to dream the dream, then live it. So I make sure to leave room on my plate for the "good stuff" such as:
*Maintain Personal Relationships (Maintaining & nurturing my current friendships and relationship, cultivating new ones, is necessary for my emotional health. Having struggled with depression, withdrawal, and being introverted most my adult life, I value the emotional connections and strength in others I have gained over the years. I began this year with a commitment to making room on my plate for personal relationships and reaching out to others instead of hiding away.)
*My Volunteer Work(Being able to give something back or help where help is needed, brings me fulfillment, joy, and fills my emotional cup. Through this work I have made some wonderful connections, new friends, and am part of something outside of myself. It's makes me happy--therefore, it goes on the plate!)
*Creative Outlet/Input (A buffet in and of itself, so many things fall under this. Whether it is listening to music, writing, dancing, running, riding on motorcycle, hiking, going to the theater, music or art festival--feeding my creative spirit is as important as food is to my body. It is a part of who I am, what makes me "feel", and without the creative outlet/input my soul would wither.)
*Fun &; Laughter (Anyone who knows me at all, knows how much I love to laugh & have fun regardless of the task at hand. This has to go on my plate!)
Lastly, always save room for dessert! Let's face it, all work and no play makes anyone a dull girl or boy! You must always make time to have fun, laugh, and sit back and savor the moment! For me, a combination of two or more of the "good stuff" listed above is as satisfying as chocolate covered dessert! Examples:
*Next month I will be attending a Dinner & Dance fund raising event for my favorite non-profit organization, Hope Animal Rescues. Not only will it raise funds, it has an 80's theme complete with 80's music & dress up!! I will be spending time listening to awesome music, with some of my new friends, dressed in some wild 80's garb, and raising money for the rescue! Better than triple layered chocolate dessert--always leave room for dessert!
Summarizing, I believe life is like a buffet, you choose what goes on your plate, who makes it on your plate, and who/what is left on the buffet. Once you have filled your plate, find a fun table. Sit down with your friends, family, and enjoy your meal! Life is best when it is spent in the companionship of others. The people you have met on life's journey, those that are important to you, and feast on life's blessings.
How do you decide what goes on your plate? What makes up your "basic food group"? The good stuff? Do you save room for dessert? Too much dessert and not enough of the basics? Do you overfill your plate--leaving no room for the good stuff or dessert?
Melody "Lil Mel" McGowan
Life Coach, Author, & Professional Advisor
Let Your Heart Heal Life Coaching