Every Friday for the last couple of months, I have treated myself to take-out for dinner. But, a few weeks ago, as I was sitting in front of the TV, eating my tacos, I realized that I had completely given in to gluttony. Each week, I had been going to one of my favorite take-out restaurants, purposely ordering more food than I knew I needed (or, rather, what would satisfy me), and came home and ate it all in one sitting. Afterwards, I felt disgusting. I was so full that I couldn't even sit up straight on the couch.
As embarrassing as this truth is, this experience made me question my actions, and how it was affecting my life. Gluttony by definition is the over-indulgence or over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. How many things I was I over-indulging in? And, because I was over-indulging, what was suffering because of it. Family? Friends? No matter what choice we make, we sacrifice something for it. If tonight, I make a choice to eat Mexican, then I'm sacrificing the choice to eat Italian. If I decide that tonight I'd rather stay in and read, then I'm sacrificing time I could be spending with friends or family.
One of the goals for myself has been to strive and work towards being the best me possible. Regardless of my age, and spinster status, I still dream of being a wife and mother one day. And, all my good parts, and my faults will affect my husband and family. And, I really don't want to pass on any bad habits to my future children.
Upon realizing what I was doing, I immediately decided I needed to make a change. For me, a huge part of being able say "no" to something, is knowing exactly what I'm saying "no" to.
Gluttony can be defined in four parts:
1. Quantity - The over-indulging in something, where we consume or do something in excess. For example, if I were to eat too much, or exercise to often.
2. Quality - Being picky can also be considered gluttonous. For example, if you'll eat something, but only if it's prepared a certain way. This is actually a very childlike vice. Kids are normally the picky eaters.
3. When - If you have to have something "right now," and you can't wait. Before I cut back on the carbs, I used to get more intense hunger pangs. And, once those started, I had a very limited window in which I needed to eat, otherwise I wouldn't feel well, and would get hangry.
4. Why? - If you've ever asked yourself why you're consuming something, and you're answer is, "I don't know." I've spoken before about the extra food that lies around my office from lunch meetings. And, I admit to grabbing something, not because I was really hungry, but because it was there.
If we are unable to control our eating habits, then we are also unable to control other habits of the mind, including lust, covetousness, anger, and gossip. We cannot let our appetite control us.
As embarrassing as this truth is, this experience made me question my actions, and how it was affecting my life. Gluttony by definition is the over-indulgence or over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. How many things I was I over-indulging in? And, because I was over-indulging, what was suffering because of it. Family? Friends? No matter what choice we make, we sacrifice something for it. If tonight, I make a choice to eat Mexican, then I'm sacrificing the choice to eat Italian. If I decide that tonight I'd rather stay in and read, then I'm sacrificing time I could be spending with friends or family.
One of the goals for myself has been to strive and work towards being the best me possible. Regardless of my age, and spinster status, I still dream of being a wife and mother one day. And, all my good parts, and my faults will affect my husband and family. And, I really don't want to pass on any bad habits to my future children.
Upon realizing what I was doing, I immediately decided I needed to make a change. For me, a huge part of being able say "no" to something, is knowing exactly what I'm saying "no" to.
Gluttony can be defined in four parts:
1. Quantity - The over-indulging in something, where we consume or do something in excess. For example, if I were to eat too much, or exercise to often.
2. Quality - Being picky can also be considered gluttonous. For example, if you'll eat something, but only if it's prepared a certain way. This is actually a very childlike vice. Kids are normally the picky eaters.
3. When - If you have to have something "right now," and you can't wait. Before I cut back on the carbs, I used to get more intense hunger pangs. And, once those started, I had a very limited window in which I needed to eat, otherwise I wouldn't feel well, and would get hangry.
4. Why? - If you've ever asked yourself why you're consuming something, and you're answer is, "I don't know." I've spoken before about the extra food that lies around my office from lunch meetings. And, I admit to grabbing something, not because I was really hungry, but because it was there.
If we are unable to control our eating habits, then we are also unable to control other habits of the mind, including lust, covetousness, anger, and gossip. We cannot let our appetite control us.
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