Eat Your Vegetables

Eat your vegetables.
How many of us heard that command from parents or caregivers as children?
Eat your vegetables, they said. They’re good for you!
And they were right.

These days, it’s not hard to get me to eat my vegetables - I love vegetables! - yet the phrase has been rattling around in my head. Despite knowing what is “good for me” (like those veggies), it can be challenging to motivate, and I can no longer rely on a wise elder to command me into action.

New Year’s Day was cold and dreary. Earlier in the week, when the weather forecast was a little more pleasant, I put an aspirational bike ride on the calendar. Now it was after-Sunday-lunch, and I wanted to take a nap. And that bike ride was still on the calendar. I talked myself into and out of following through on that calendar commitment several times on the trip home from lunch.

Finally, I thought of vegetables. And I knew that just like eating my veggies, going on that bike ride was likely good for me. So I went, and sure enough, it WAS good for me! I even enjoyed it, despite the dreary day.

NYD 2023: post-ride bliss

I was lucky on January 1 - the reward for doing the right thing followed right on the heels of the behavior. So many good behaviors don’t give that instant gratification, however. “Do your homework, it’s good for you” took years to play out in terms of having a stronger academic foundation that permitted entry to medical school.

I’m working this year on changing my behavior in small steps, and part of my “why” is a goal of achieving those things that are good for me. A recent meditation mantra “choose purpose over perfect” feels like encouragement to recognize the success of doing something (anything) in the right direction and gives me motivation. I often have to remind myself that getting started is the hardest step!

To this end, I’m working to set myself up for success in 2023. Each week’s calendaring session includes a new to-do: giving those healthy commitments a space in my day, every day. The micro step of finding and reserving the time means it is easier to do the next good thing and follow through. Speaking of which, my calendar is reminding me I need to hit the treadmill!

Today, I will eat my vegetables.