There are things in this life that we all deserve, and should, without apology or guilt, allow ourselves:
- I have the right to ask only myself for permission. Everyone else, I’ll just ask for forgiveness.
- I have the right to say “no” for any reason, including, “I don’t wanna”. This does not include, however, the right to throw a tantrum.
- I have the right to run on the treadmill because the weather is not quite perfect enough for my delicate sensitivities.
- I have the right to engage in self-care even when it might seem selfish to other people. Going to bed early might seem silly, but trust me, you’ll like me better with 8+ hours of sleep under my belt.
- I have the right to disagree with the ones I love, while still respecting their opinion (even though they’re most likely wrong).
- I have the right to be “lazy” when my body tells me that it’s better to rest a bit. It’s called “recovery”, people.
- I have the right to not always be happy because a full life involves grief as well as joy. And you have the right to avoid me when I’m like this.
- I have the right to eat whatever the hell I want, because no food is “good” or “bad”. Unless it’s actually bad, in which case, throw that crap out, dude! You know that vegetables can’t live in the refrigerator for an unlimited amount of time.
And because all rights come with some responsibilities:
- I have the responsibility, as often as possible, to make decisions that are in congruence with my goals. That’s fancy talk for don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk.
- I have the responsibility to listen to my body, whether it needs more or less food, more or less exercise. Not every couch potato session is undeserved, ya know?
- I have the responsibility to always move towards the me that I want to be while accepting and loving the me that’s doing the hard work right now. Even my holiday season bowl-full-of-jelly-belly is part of the team that’s getting me where I’m going.
- I have the responsibility to be kind, tolerant and empathetic to those around me. I just need to get the rest of the world on board with this one, and I wish it weren’t so damn hard to do so.
- I have the responsibility to fuel my body in a way that will allow me to get the most from it. And sometimes that means eating Pop-Tarts (or the generic equivalent, if I’m feeling especially thrifty).
- I have a responsibility to feel all the feels, be vulnerable and open myself up to the world around me. Eliminating all risks to avoid getting hurt isn’t part of the deal.
What else would you add to this list?
(This post was inspired by something I read in the wonderful Eating The Food Facebook group, where they espouse a healthy relationship with food and support every individual on their journey. They allow new members to join every few months, so check it out if that’s something you’re interested in.)