Going with Bob to Disneyland really was unusually enlightening for me this time around. Such a short trip, yet some great new insights!
1. Planning meals is important to me when traveling. Obviously, there are some negotiables that have to be considered when traveling, but having a rough idea of when and where and what seems to be important to me, not only so we can keep a budget and not “blow a wad” buying food in Disneyland, but also to fend off the anxiety I sometimes feel when I am not sure what the plan is for meals. This is something that God is definitely still working with me on and I had no idea it was such a need until this trip exposed that fact.
2. Stress can hit unexpectedly, even at the happiest place on earth. To see how Bob handled the unexpected airline challenge was very illuminating to me. He wanted to deal with the problem before eating…even though he was hungry. I am not sure I would have handled it that way had I been alone with a similar situation! Here is the thing…life IS stressful. If we let stress derail us from adhering to our boundaries, we are likely to never make steady headway. I think the key is how we will handle stress when it hits. In Bob’s case, he didn’t even want to “go there” and sit down to a meal when he was physically hungry because of other factors. He mentioned in the video that being hungry, being in a place with so many good food options, and knowing he wanted to medicate himself from the stress all resulted in him not wanting to exercise self-control if he were to have a meal at that very moment. That was like an “ah HA!” moment for me. Funny how I can learn so much from him when *I* am the one who has been doing this for so long! LOL! He wanted to deal with the problem causing the stress FIRST. (Duh! What a novel idea! You mean, eating isn’t necessary in order for me to handle the problem? LOL!)
3. Walking into a situation where an abundance of FOOD sights and smells bombard (as they do in Disneyland) is NOT for the faint of heart! It seemed as though everywhere we went in Disneyland and when we walked to and from the condo outside the park, there was an assault of FOOD FOOD FOOD! Everywhere we turned people were eating turkey legs with an incredible aroma! It seemed like ice cream cones were as common as Mickey Mouse ears! And that is just the beginning. I can NOT imagine doing this if I didn’t have experience with not giving in to food in the face of temptation. I know that 5 years ago, I probably wouldn’t have handled this without eating my way through the park. I am reminded of years ago when I had just had children and I took them to the mall. For me, the mall was ALL about all the different food options I could indulge in. It had nothing to do with shopping and everything to do with eating. I think that may be what Disneyland (and other similar destinations) are for many…and could be for me if I am not careful!
4. Partnering with a spouse is invaluable. I can’t pretend not to be blessed. The many years Bob was not on board with 0 to 5 eating were hard, though he has never been a “foodie” like me. He has always been relatively supportive…never intentionally derailing me from my boundaries. Nevertheless, to be partnering with him was helpful to maintain my resolve to persevere with my 0 to 5 boundaries.
Do you have a place you enjoy going that could cause you to stumble in maintaining your boundaries? What strategies might you use to overcome these “stumbling stones” and come out the other side victorious?
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DRAWING WINNER!
I don’t want to forget to announce this week’s winner for our drawing! Whenever you comment here at the blog, I add your name to the “hat” (actually a brown paper sack). On Friday each week, I pray that God would have my hand land on the name of the person he wants to have the opportunity to pick a prize from one of our three prizes before I draw one lucky name out. The prizes to choose from are: Thin Within (copies donated by the Thin Within ministry–thanks to Joe Donaldson), Hunger Within (copies donated by Arthur and Judy Halliday), or a week of coaching by yours truly. 🙂
This week, we had over 60 names to draw from. That means you all were busy interacting with one another. THANK YOU.
This week’s winner of our drawing is Cindy!
CONGRATULATIONS! I will be shooting you an email. 🙂
I am enjoying the e mails and reading the blog. Very inspirational!
So glad to have you, Norma! Thanks for the kind words!
Thanks for taking us on your trip to Disney! I wanted to share one thing that has helped a lot since we started this study. I found a spiral bound 50 card 3×5 index card “book” in a desk drawer. I started writing scripture from Barb’s study, as well as any other that “spoke” to me. Then, I wrote my renewing my mind goal on the inside of the front cover – easily accessible daily. I wrote my “truths” on the last card – again, easily accessible. Finally, a running praise/God list just before the back of the book. I fill in scripture as needed.
While I have the donut app, I really am a pen and paper person. So, I have copied the questions from the studies (renewing, careless eating, justification eating, etc) into a word file, shrunk and printed them. They are taped on the the index cards near the front of the “book.” I carry it in my purse and review when I have a moment. I also review and use it in prayer in the am. Hope this makes sense and I am praying that this tool will help me grow in godly character!
Wow…what a GREAT idea! I love it! I tend to be more paper and pen oriented, too. I am trying to transition to devices since I like the convenience, but I still like the multi-sensory aspect of writing, reading, touching, smelling paper and pen! LOL! Thanks for sharing your approach, CMK!
Heidi – I have never learned so much and had so much to think about! You have sparked a fire under me, motivating me into WANTING these boundaries of hunger/fullnerss. I find each post/video means something to me AND they stick in the back of my mind!! In fact I have not binged
( an old “habit” that crept back in lately) since I saw your video with giving God the “talk to the hand”. Everytime I even think of sneaking into the kitchen, knowing full well a binge is following, I see that hand going up to God and I make a uturn, running to HIM instead! It is fun to see you guys at Disney Land and learn how you manage trials and temptations.
Oh, Linda. Thank you so much for the encouragement. I am so glad that God can use my dorkiness in some positive way (Bob’s dorkiness, too!). BIG hugs! Thanks for letting me know, Linda. It really means SO much to me!
Oh, I forgot to thank you for what I would think is recap of the past few videos!! Very helpful! 🙂 Linda
My kids think that after school graduation they’ll know-it-all!!! But learning process never stops 🙂 I guess, when our heart is open, our life’s small and big events and challenges can be those opportunities, where we have H-Ha moments and learn something new!!!! Thank you for a great post!!!!
Sure thing, Natalia! 🙂