Practicing the French exit

One of my friends likes hosting parties at her house because she can simply leave when she's tired. Everyone's had a few drinks and nobody even knows she's gone. She's become a pro at the French exit (leaving without saying goodbye). 

Lately, the toys at our house have been guilty of this French behavior. 

Let me explain. We moved to a new house a few weeks ago which meant that I got (painfully) reacquainted with all the, errrr stuff, that we own. Don't get me wrong, I love getting rid of things, thanks to my friend, Shira Gill***, and even did a massive pre-move sweep. Despite my best decluttering efforts, I still ended up with five trunk loads to our recycling center. 

It was that fifth load that was the toughest. I was struggling with getting rid of a few bigger toys that our kids use periodically, but had sentimental value. Our playroom at the new house is smaller than our old house and things were just feeling cluttered. After an exhausting few weeks of unpacking, I was feeling beat by our volume and one day I just looked at the toys and decided they were leaving. I didn't ask our kids. I didn't ask my husband. I just dismantled them with my screwdriver and allen wrench and packed them all in my trunk. Off they went without a goodbye. 

Funny enough, the kids haven't said a thing.  

The toy's French exit reminds me of how many times I've wanted to just slip away without a goodbye when the conversation with friends or family turns to diets. When you're on an anti diet journey and people are constantly talking about their latest juice, cleanse, detox, it can be really triggering. Hearing diet talk can dig up old wounds, make you feel like you should get back on the "bandwagon" or flare your anxiety along with your sympathetic nervous system.

When you notice you're feeling triggered, you don't have to launch into a big explanation about how diets don't work and the diet industry doesn't care about you and your health, but only about their $78 billion dollar a year (and growing) paycheck. It's not your job to educate people, especially when they don't ask or aren't ready to receive anti-diet information. 

Sometimes the wisest thing to do is simply walk away, French exit style. 

Slip away to a safer conversation or person or place where you can calm your sympathetic nervous system back down. Take a few deep breaths and remind yourself why you started this important journey. Remind yourself that prioritizing yourself and your health by not dieting is more important than a proper goodbye. And, hey, just like my kids didn't notice their toys had vanished, nobody will notice that you left the conversation about macros and gluten free cereals, but you'll notice that your sanity has been saved.

Maybe it's time you practiced the French exit. Calgon, take me away.....

***If you're ready to cut the clutter and spend less time managing your piles, you have to meet my friend, Shira. She's helped me streamline virtually every closet and major room in our house and I can't wait fo her new book, Minimalista to hit to bookshelves on November 2nd. It's a step-by-step guide to a better home, wardrobe, and life. I pre-ordered my copy and can't wait to dive in this fall! This is not an affiliate link. I'm simply sharing this with you because I love sharing stuff that actually improves your life. 
Pre-order here!