Ode’ To Chocolate

Lately, well for about 4 months now, I have been feeling a tired, rundown, just plain old funky. I passed it off on a hundred things, yet it kept getting worse. Then, while out to lunch with some fellow photographer friends, I got hit by a crippling stomach pain. My mind flashed back to the birth of my children, or a few scenes for that movie “Alien”. I watched it when I was a kid. I am still recovering from that.

I am one of those people that can find a thousand reasons for any pain I feel, or sickness I have. The truth is, I do not like to stop just because I have pain or sickness, but on this day, I wasn’t given the option. Hours later, after the worry of appendicitis and a few other possibles, they discovered the problem, a milk allergy. Frankly I felt that something that caused the pain I felt should have a long, horrible, scientific name, I couldn’t pronounce, but no, just milk allergy.

So when the doctor told me that meant removing all dairy products from my diet, I didn’t stress out. I am a mind over matter person. I felt, I can do this. I sang, “I Will Survive” silently to myself………………..until he said that meant no chocolate or chocolate flavored items. I may have shed a tear, or two, or a bucket. I mean, I am a woman. I love chocolate. Or at least I did, now I just admire it from afar…….very far.

I am happy to say after a few days of having no dairy or food with any kind of dairy additives, I am pain free, energy is through the roof, and I am surviving with no chocolate. It can be done. I am living proof.

On a serious note, if your a woman, stop. Stop putting yourself last, and stop making excuses for the way you feel. Listen to your body and appreciate your life and those who love you, enough to try everyday to feel better, stronger, braver, even if it means saying no to chocolate or a thousand other things we women love. Say yes to more laughs, more hugs, more “middle of the kitchen sexy kisses with your love”, more movie nights with your kids piled up beside you on the couch, more fun, less worry.

Just live and live it to the fullest that you can.

So goodby chocolate. We had a great 32 years, but now it must end. How I will miss you, but you are in now way ever welcome to come back. Ever. As that song by Taylor Swift says, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”. So here is to the final curtain call on my love affair with you. Lights down, curtains closed, stage exit right.