My employer has been wonderful - and my boss has been my champion. They have worked with me for doctor's visits, the pre-op stuff, time off for surgery...I can never express all my gratitude for all they have done to make this happen for me. I know many people are not nearly as blessed as I am.
That being said, I'm really noticing how many things at work - or in life in general - revolve around food. Someone's birthday? Let's eat! Someone gets a promotion? Let's eat! Employee Appreciation Week? Let's eat! Any celebration at all? Let's eat. We tie the joy of the occasion to the food, to the point that we have difficulty feeling joy if food is not involved. Or the opposite is also true - bad day at work? Let's eat. Romantic problems? Let's eat. Worried over a child, finances, health? Let's eat. A loved one dies? Let's eat. We also tie the heartache and stress to food. So in a very real sense, food no longer is just something to eat...it has become the emotional bond, happy or sad or mad or afraid, that connects us to our family, our friends, our co-workers. And giving up that bond is scary.
For Valentine's Day - my company gave out small boxes of chocolate to each employee. I politely asked that they not give me one. The response was, "But you still have over a week until your surgery." I smiled, and said, "Thank you, but I would really rather not." They passed me by - and I wonder if they were upset.
I'm taking a stand - food is no longer going to be my bond to other people...and I am sure that there will be people who will not understand - or agree with - that. I can rejoice with you - and not eat a single bite! I can cry with you, and not stuff my face. In my relationship - the other person is what is important - not the food we might or might not share. So, I am not going to be afraid to say, "No, thank you." I am not going to eat something, simply because the people around me are eating. And in doing so - I think I will find my path.
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