Pay Attention...

This morning as I was stepping into the shower - I closed the door on my ankle. It really hurts! Right now, it's a little swollen, and will very probably bruise. It seems like I am always doing things like that. I keep crutches, a cane, and a leg brace - for all of those "just in case" moments. When I was growing up - my Mama always said that I was an accident looking for a place to happen. Sadly - I usually found a place to happen, so often in fact, that when I would come home dragging one body part or another, she would just roll her eyes and ask, "What happened THIS time?" My injuries have ranged from the small - like a stubbed toe - to the major - like third degree burns or having a bone reset.

Over the years, I have read lots of different articles about accident-prone people. Some studies indicate that women have more accidents in connection with their cycles. Others suggest that people of higher intelligence are thinking about so many things at once. But if I'm entirely honest, I have to admit no matter what anyone says is the cause, the bottom line is that I'm not paying attention. And when I don't pay attention, somebody - usually me - is going to get hurt.

As I was hopping around in the shower this morning (just a side note - why do we hop when we injure a foot, ankle or toe - all that jumping can't be very good for anything) I realized that once again, I hadn't been paying attention. If I were paying attention, then I would have made sure my foot was completely inside the shower BEFORE I closed the door - DUH! And then it hit me - for years, that is how I lived my life - not really paying attention.

How many times have I stuffed food in my face - without even giving it a thought? How many times have I eaten fast food because it was easy? How many times have I ignored the signs that I was full? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I NOT PAID ATTENTION TO WHAT I WAS EATING AND WHAT MY BODY WAS TELLING ME? Too many - many times too many! And because I wasn't paying attention - I was hurt. Even when I have "dieted" in the past - I really didn't pay attention. Well, maybe I did for a little while, but eventually, old habits came back - and I stopped.

Even with this surgery - if I don't pay attention - I can stretch out my stomach. I can go back to where I was. I know this - and I know people who have done this. Right now - I am paying attention - I plan what I will take to work to eat for breakfast, lunch and snack. If we go to a restaurant, I know ahead of time what I will order, and I know I will take most of it home. I know that there are certain foods I will not be able to eat, ever.

I may always be a clutz - with major and minor injuries along the way. But I'm praying that I will always pay attention to the food that I am eating - making good choices, both in quantity and quality of food.