Training Wheels



Lovely Friend,

  Can you remember what it was like when you were learning to ride a bike for the first time?  You had mastered almost everything about riding a bike: steering, pedaling, and braking; however, one skill remained: balance.  It's kind of funny how all the other skills seemed so easy, until balance was added to the mix.

    I remember the day that my dad took off my training wheels.  I was at my grandmother's house, a very familiar place where I had ridden my bike many times before.  I had gone up and down her long driveway countless times with no fear, but that all changed when my training wheels were removed.  With the removal and this added skill of balance, I remember forgetting how to steer.  I continually slammed into the wooden fence that ran the length of my grandmother's driveway.  That day, several times, I wanted to quit and give up.  It was hard work learning to ride and it was frustrating to be so bad at this skill that I had previously believed that I had mastered.  With perseverance I did eventually learn to ride my bike and I have a couple of scarred knees to prove it.

   My experience learning to ride my bike is very similar to my experience learning to eat clean.  I know what I am supposed to be doing, but balancing it can be very challenging at times.  I know that preparation is a big key, but figuring out how to balance the added food prep time into my schedule involves mastery of balance.  I also have had to master my schedule when I am away from home.  My previous habits have been to drive thru, but now I favor packing my own lunch.  Although I prefer this new idea, I still have to remember to pack our lunches before we leave the house.  It is new part of balance that I am still learning how to do.

   I am very encouraged to remember that anytime that I am learning to do something new, perfection is not expected immediately.  Eating clean is no different.  It requires perseverance for me to be able to master it.  It requires perseverance for me to jump back on track every time that I get off course.  It requires perseverance for me to make the hard choices even when I don't feel like it.  My friend, I hope that you are encouraged to stay on track even when you fall!  I hope, that like me, you realize that a healthier lifestyle is a change that will have ups and downs in the beginning.  But, like riding a bike, healthy eating does get mastered and your health will change as a result!

Giving it my all,
Jess