The Words Diet

Everybody, and I mean everybody, knows about weight loss dieting. We have all tried one or two diets in our lifetime.

We’ve read about the Keto, Atkins, and high protein, low-fat, low-carb, and grapefruit diets. You name it – likely, we have at least considered one of these promises to make us look like Ms or Mr Universe.

The Mediterranean diet is my favorite, and Weight Watchers works too. My entire life, I’ve strived to develop good eating habits, especially now that I’m getting older. I recently found a great article published by the national council on aging with great tips. You can find the link below.

I also read that 45 million Americans put themselves on diets each year and spend an average of $33 BILLION dollars on weight loss each year! That is a lot of money!

But how much time and money do we spend on emotional diets? What I mean by emotional diet is important. I mean, how much time do we spend getting outraged and angry. How much time do we spend hating? I’ve come to categorize these feelings as fats, ultra-processed foods, and sugar. These feelings are the junk food of our souls.

From Stoicism and the Bible, we read about ridding our souls of this junk food, starting with the words we assert so passionately. It is easy for me to explode in anger just because of a reckless driver or a social media political post. Every day is a struggle, just like with weight loss diets. One day at a time.

These days we hate everything from broccoli to our civic leaders. Yes, we put them in the same context! We hate so many things that hate has become a common expression for almost everything. According to Merriam-Webster, hate means intense hostility and aversion – but here is the interesting part – usually deriving from fear, anger, or a sense of injury. What are we afraid of, and why are we hurting so much?

Why are we hating so much when we know this feeling is trash? Other words might sound better, and we can consider them low-fat or low-sugar alternatives. Detest, abhor, loathe, and despise. Do these soften the harshness? Maybe, but it halts the possibility of getting caught up in indulging in hatred. I want to hate less or like with fat, completely eliminate it from my diet. My favorite alternative is “I strongly dislike.” What’s yours?

There is another word that, in my opinion, is being used for just about everything. I am getting tired of trying to figure out what it means exactly since it is used in so many funny, doomed, sad, or angry circumstances. It is that word that begins with an F; you all know it. Are we overusing it? What does it really mean? I think its repetition in films has rid it of its meaning. The same dictionary cites the different vulgar meanings attributed to this word. This word is my ultimate junk food with the same allure as loaded french fries. Sometimes irresistible, albeit the fact they can cause a heart attack.

It is getting increasingly difficult to wake up without having something to be outraged about. I’ve given up on cable “news” networks and categorized them as junk food for the soul. For the most part, all they accomplish is stirring up junky feelings. They are the sugar and caffeine of spiritual diets.

In this post, I want to share my commitment to avoiding words that hurt me, just like junk food. Some of these words were called “bad words” decades ago but are now part of everyday speech.

I read my favorite bible verses often – just two verses I have glued to my computer screen. Recently I opened my bible and continued reading to the end of the chapter where I found the solution for the “word diet” written hundreds of years ago. I will end this post with this elemental tip for our spiritual and emotional weight loss. Yes, weight loss because these trashy feelings weigh on us heavily.

Philippians Chapter 4: 8-9

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me (St. Paul), and the God of peace will be with you.

Peace!

Healthy Eating Tips for Seniors

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