Relative Something

In so many ways, it makes sense that ‘out of sight’ leads to, ‘out of mind’. I can honestly report that I do not think about Girl Scout cookies without some reason that triggers it. Maybe a cute little commercial, a feel-good news story, even that weak laugh-getter reference in a second-rate sitcom. Of course, too, there is always that irresistible pair of eyes that show up at the door in a sales call, …and then, BOOM, there they are, on the counter. I didn’t know Cyndie had placed an order. Not just one kind, either. More flavor styles than I knew existed. On the counter. Girl Scout cookies. Boxes of them. Just set there, on the counter.

I don’t know how many of you know about the period in my life when I decided I would quit eating sweets. I had seen it done by two other people I respect, and was impressed and inspired by them. One person started it as a lenten exercise in sacrifice and then just kept on going. I had never practiced such an act of sacrifice like that before and was intrigued. I gave it a shot.

Overall, I was struck by how easy it ultimately was, once I got over the initial withdrawal, to fully enjoy myself without even a craving for the sweet treats and desserts that I had decided to forgo. It turned out that I didn’t need to repeatedly overcome an urge, I found that I simply lost my former passion for all things sweet. Well, sort of.

It wasn’t all miraculous instant healthy diet. I discovered that I happily traded the overt sweet enticements for breads. It’s a whole other kind of sweet.

For whatever reason, probably more psychological than physiological, I eventually decided to relax my behavior and join the crowd in dessert at social gatherings. Now I occasionally put some ice creamy, chocolaty, crispy, crunchy, gooey, smooth and rich treats in my mouth that remind me of flavors I had almost forgotten about for a while there. But, for the most part, my current self-control usually results  in pretty humble portions.

Except for Girl Scout cookies. Boxes of them. Just laying there. On the counter.