You Don’t Have To Like It

I was just thinking about this as I responded to a comment from Rob earlier. Rob asked how I became afraid of so many foods. There are a multitude of things I just wont eat. Mayo being one of them. Any nut other than a peanut is another. Most meats… particularly steak and pork chops.

My family never made it clear that I didn’t have to like what I tried to eat. I really think that was the biggest factor. Well, that, and their reaction to when I wouldn’t try new things. Sitting at a table till midnight and sitting in a closet were common dinner time activities for me. But oh well. That and the attitude toward trying whatever it was. It was always a me against them kind of deal. If I tried it, regardless of whether I liked it or not, they won. I’d eaten it which would mean they would make it again and I’d have to eat it again. And if I didn’t like it, I didn’t want them to win and then have to eat it again. So, if I held my ground till midnight, it’d never be served again (or rarely served again).

We try new things here on occasion. However most of the new things I’m having my daughter try are things I already know I like. What I fed my daughter before is just shameful. Never again will I feed her a french fry (chips in Australia and Europe). Never again will I feed her chicken nuggets (or soft serve chicken- see Mark on that one).

The biggest thing though I think that helps my daughter to try these new foods is that she doesn’t have to like them. She has to try them but not like them. Also, regardless of whether she “wins” or I “win”, they will be served on our table again. And the next time we have them, she’ll have to try them. With our salad, I’m giving her a small amount that she has to eat. After that if she wants more she can, if she doesnt, that’s fine too. The other things we try, she doesn’t have to like. She doesn’t like brocolli yet so when we have it she only has to eat one bite of it. Eventually she might want more of it, but as of yet, she hasn’t expressed that to me.

But not only does this help her, I think it free’s me a bit too. I don’t have to like the things I try. When I try them, I try to eat a full portion of it. If I don’t like it, that’ll just be the first and last portion of it I ever eat. I didn’t feel I had that freedom to not eat it again as a kid. I feel that I do now and I will conquer my fear of foods one of these years.

The “you don’t have to like it” applies for all area’s of life. It’s hard to try new things when you’re not sure if you’ll like them or not. New workout idea’s are hard for me because, well, what if I don’t like it? I don’t want to be stuck with a program I don’t like. So now, I’m doing the if I don’t like it, then it’s done. I don’t have to do programs I hate just because they’re “good” programs. The best program in the world will do nothing for me if I don’t like doing it. Other recreational activities as well are not always easy to try. I remember the first time I went out dancing. I was so nervous and I didn’t even want to go because… I might not like it. Well, with that expectation of having to like it taken away, I was free to enjoy my night best I was able. To think now that I almost didn’t go out dancing is tragic! I absolutely love to dance! I’ll even dance all by myself if I have to :).

As for our workout tonight- easy night with the bells. Presses- 5 ladders, 3 rungs. After that Josh pulled a three, I pulled an ace. So four minutes of snatches. I think I did pretty damn good with those tonight.

Now, I’m tired from going to bed so late last night! I’m probably going to get my teeth brushed and get myself to bed in the next few minutes. I don’t think I’ll last much longer!