Bring On The Color

There will always be restrictions in my life, but over the last few weeks I tried to get rid of any that weren’t absolutely necessary.  So while I still ate a gluten-free diet, if I was craving Trader Joe’s Baked Cheese Crunchies over baby carrots, I ate the Cheese Crunchies.  I stopped calculating out the vitamins in my food and measuring the needed supplements.  And finally, I just did what I wanted; if I was tired on a Sunday afternoon, instead of putting the laundry away, I took a nap, or instead of going to the gym, I read a book – or several.

In complete honesty I was hoping for some big reveal, or maybe even to feel better.  While neither of those things happened, I did give my body a rest, at least from what I could while having a full-time job.  And now with the drop in temperature (finally!) signifying that the seasons really have changed, I feel the need to change with it.

Autumn yields a change to the rhythm of the day as the nights come sooner, begging to be spent in creativity by the computer or in comfort curled before the fire reading a book.  The limited sunlight forces me to make the most of the daylight hours, getting things knocked off my to-do list with as much speed as I can muster.  Autumn also comes with the promise of a beginning, middle and end that you can see unfold.  The world becomes more colorful when the leaves change, eventually laying out a blanket to crunch on as you walk, before being replaced with the decorations for the holidays.   You can see its path at the start, instead of only being able to find it in retrospect. 

For me, more than the New Year or a birthday, Autumn is the start of something new and the shedding of something old.  So it’s time to start: a new writing project, a new exercise plan, a new approach to food - that will shockingly result in me conquering my hatred and stepping foot in the intimidating kitchen. 

I have my ingredient list ready.  I have my hula-hoop waiting to be added to my cardio plan, and inspiration is everywhere I look.   It’s time for a fresh start, and this one will not be filled with black lines on a white schedule sheet.  It will be filled with color.