It's A Jungle Out There

As I passed through the doorway, a dirt covered jeep with headlights on my left and a stack of boulders on my right, a sense of thrill overcame by body. Further ahead an elephant tusk emerged from the floor while khaki hats with drawstring ties hung from the ceiling. 

My sister, mom and I were embarking on one of my favorite annual traditions. Not a real safari, but a trip to Banana Republic in the Grand Avenue Mall  (circa 1988) which felt like a pretty close second. The decor was a strangely cool scene from the jungle and I couldn't wait to comb through the racks and stacks of cool clothes.  

Every year my sister and I would pick out school outfits at this store. Even the dressing rooms made it feel like you were going on an adventure with their banana bunches trimming the doorway and palm leaf curtains. The lights were dim and the smell was a mix of coffee beans and fresh wood. I loved lingering in the adventure. 

With new clothes in hand, I couldn't wait to get home and lay out my first day outfit.  Everything had to be perfect.

Today our kids did this same time honored tradition of laying our their first day outfits right down to their socks, undies and hair ties. 

Watching my kids get ready for school, made me think of how other things in my life had to be laid out perfectly, like my food.

The perfect amount. 
The perfect combinations.
The perfect colors.
The perfect just enough, but never too much. 

Does this sound like you?

For many recovering from disordered eating, they need to fight this need for everything looking, feeling and being perfect around food.

Here's the rub, there's no such thing as perfect when it comes to our food. We're animal beings with deep biological drives that urge us to do things that might seem odd to our rational brain. We don't need to explain or compensate for our innate desires, we simply need to respond to them (aka eat when you're hungry). 

The next time you find yourself seeking perfection on your plate. I want you to picture yourself in that Banana Republic jungle and remind yourself that you're an animal that isn't meant to be tamed or controlled. Remind yourself that trying to control your food will actually leave you feeling more out of control than ever. 

Things are still feeling pretty out of control in our world. You, my friend, don't need to seek control around your food. Leave that up to your animal self to decide. 

This way you'll have plenty of time to decide on your first day outfit.  Even if you'll be spending your time behind a zoom screen or behind the wheel of your dirt covered jeep. 

It's a jungle out there. 

PS. Peace Out Diets is coming soon! I can't wait to show you how to let go of perfection with your plate and finally relax around food. Stay tuned!