The Problem with Spoons
The Epidemic of Obesity
There is no disagreement that obesity in our country has become epidemic. Fully 60% of us are either obese or overweight and the number is growing exponentially. The related health problems of diabetes, heart disease, cancers, and other chronic diseases threaten our lives the financial security of our families, our entire economy.
According to the CDC, a major threat to our economy and our country is Chronic Disease; which also according to the CDC can be measurably reduced by lifestyle changes. And these health issues are now assaulting our children as well as us. Children are becoming obese, developing diabetes and related issues at an extremely alarming rate. Something has to be done! Maybe we should look to the government and pass some law to help us out here!
The Satirical Spoon Solution
We’ll regulate and legislate some of the equipment that some of us are using irresponsibly. Let’s start with spoons. Think about it. Outlawing spoons should reduce the average person’s weekly caloric intake by hundreds of calories! No one eats ice cream with a knife or a fork! Pudding, mashed potatoes & gravy, many of our sugary sweets and high-calorie processed starches are consumed with spoons. Consuming these delicacies and indulgences just wouldn’t be so alluring without spoons!
Spoons are cheap, prolific; several lurk in a kitchen drawer of every home, waiting for the chance to turn someone into an uncontrolled binge eater. But that doesn’t absolve us of our responsibility; face it, you wouldn’t own a spoon if you weren’t anticipating dining on decadent indulgences now would you? People MUST learn to be responsible with their use of eating utensils.
The Real Culprit: Our Lifestyle
Until then we must pass laws that force citizens to register all of their silver and plastic ware. Regulate industries that produce these tools of the devil! Maybe we should even make spoons illegal. We couldn’t stay fat eating with chopsticks, could we?
Obviously, I’ve been using satire, and some irony, to help point out that the problem isn’t really something “out there” like spoons, or emotional triggers, or stressful situations, or difficult people, that make us overindulge. The problem is inside us, in all of us.
Self-Reflection and Accountability
Since we all overindulge in some area of our lives, this is just a call for us to sit down and think about our insides; our hearts, or our spirit’s, however you want to think of that. We could all do some soul searching to think about what might be missing when we stand in front of an open refrigerator looking longingly inside – when we are not even hungry – physically that is.
The Threefold Approach to Overcoming Obstacles
You see there is a mental, a physical, and a spiritual/emotional component to our struggles with weight and just about every other issue. In Stephen Covey’s bestselling book “The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People” he says that successful people are “proactive” in that they are willing to take some time off, sit down and think seriously about what is missing in each of these areas. He suggests a day trip to a park or a beach for this.
Spiritual Fulfillment
St. Augustine said that we all have a God (Higher Power if you choose) shaped hole in our hearts. And until we fill that hole with Him (or a Higher Power if you wish) we will overindulge in all sorts of things and have all sorts of problems trying to feel satisfied.
Taking Action and Seeking Guidance
So I’ll encourage you to take a day, or an afternoon off to think about these things; in a nice beautiful peaceful place maybe. You might write your thoughts down in a diary or a journal even. And then make an action plan. Who are you going to talk to? Many people have traveled this path of the heart before. There are Churches, Synagogues, 12 step groups, Bible study groups, Coffee groups, Counselors, Friends, and Mentors out there waiting to share with you how they got started on this ancient path. So don’t be afraid to reach out to a few people you trust to find out where their journey has gone. You’ll be surprised, I promise.