”We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

-Aristotle

What a beautiful quote. Really, Aristotle, these words are eloquent, memorable, and if I’m honest, a little judgy. Okay, before you begin shooting criticisms at me like flaming arrows, hear me out. I know I struggle with habits, and every dang book I’ve read about self growth says habits are the foundation of success, but that doesn’t explain why I’m killing it at some habits and getting killed by others. What is it about the hierarchy of habits that I fail at?

Let’s begin with a little proof, shall we? So, writing daily, that’s my jam. Keeping a clean house, also my jam. Organizing lessons for the school week, my jam. Pretty much anything that goes with checking things off of my to do list… my jam. BUT, and that’s a big but, after I’m done boasting about the things I’ve accomplished, I usually grab an easy mac and cheese container, a bag of salt and vinegar chips, and if there are cheese curds on hand… don’t even get me started. Pretty much any habit that makes me look successful is easy for me to follow, but any habit that actually helps me become healthier… well that habit tends to hang on the weight bench in my garage with the rest of the crap piling on top of it.

Here’s the deal, I know I suck at keeping promises to myself when it comes to losing weight. I have yo-yo dieted so much, that I’m pretty much a pro. For some reason, I believe the idea that hard work, consistency, and overcoming obstacles only works with my career. Isn’t that just fifty shades of lame?

So, today, I’ve made a decision. I’ve decided to really give a damn about myself, and shocker of the world, I’m going to begin by becoming my own friend. Maybe if I flip the script in my head, and stop beating myself up every time I eat a Pringle, I will actually learn to give myself grace. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to find some success in the habits of healthy living… maybe I should start by putting down this Poptart… this health stuff is hard.