Hi friends. It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time to share some food for thought and some food for your face hole. I’m linking up with the fab Jenn of Peas & Crayons.
Something my brain has been chewing on a lot lately is the idea of control. When is ok to take control and when is ok to let it go. I know I’m not alone when I say that I like control. I don’t just like it, I crave it. I want to know what I’m doing today, tomorrow, next week and next year. I like to know what I’m eating, what’s in it, where’s it from, how it’s made. I like to know everything that’s going on around me… at all times. I hate being caught off guard or worse with my guard down.
You know the feeling. Like when you turn a corner in your car a little to sharp and you have to hold tight as you veer around the bend. The creeping anxiety when you’re traveling and your flights delayed, which almost certainly means you’ll miss every flight after that. Or sitting in traffic watching the time go by even though the cars have stopped. Not too surprisingly, in the past, as someone dealing with depression, low self esteem and serious control issues I used to use food as a means to cope with a lot anxiety. Every bite was measured, calculated and accounted for. Luckily over time I’ve been able to heal from those obsessive, destructive behaviors but my control issues will always be there.
We have this illusion that we can be in control of our entire lives. We’re the captains, we’re the pilots, we’re in the driver’s seat. But guess what? There’s traffic. There are accidents. There are closed roads and detours and shitty weather that all the planning in the world can’t prepare you for.
Something I’m slowly, and I mean slowly (like 3 steps forward 2 steps back kinda slowly) learning is that some beautiful, spontaneous, wonderful, scary, heart breaking, vulnerable, unforgettable moments happen when you let go of the control. And wouldn’t be a shame if we never let them happen because we couldn’t let go?
I’m working on it (slowly). Sometimes it means going out for drinks with friends or trying something new – with the knowledge that I might hate it or trusting someone to help me accomplish a goal I couldn’t do alone…. or eating a snack my coworker gave me even though I hadn’t planned it (baby steps).
On to the food for your facehole part (I know, fantastic transition eh?)
Breakfast
Horchata Almond Milk Over night oats topped with nut butter, granola & berries
Snack
Homemade protein energy ballz.
Lunch
Arugula, farro grains, sweet potato, avocado, sunflower seeds and tahini sauce
Snack
Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups
Dinner
2 Slices of Ezekiel bread, 1 with avocado 1 with mix of almond butter & chocolate sun butter, siggi’s ginger orange yogurt topped with frozen mango
Your Turn:
- Control issues. What are your tips for coping?
- Have you ever let go of control only to have something amazing happen? (or am I full of sh*t?)
Your WIAW posts are my favorite. I wish I had good advice, but this is something I struggle with too. I guess learning to have faith that things will be OK has helped. But I still need a push to try new things.
Totally. For better or for worse I have this “everything happens for a reason” mentality that comes in handy when I’m trying to let go of some control and get out of my comfort zone, so even if the experience wasn’t great I find a way to make it mean something.
1. Your EATS look amazing, especially your dinner!
2. I do find that when I let go of control I tend to seriously relax and feel so CHILL…Nantucket does that to me, even though it takes a few days for it to happen and then I have to head home;
3. I find myself doing controlling things like right now…when am I going to workout, eat, blah blah blah…so today I am trying to just let it all go. Not workout, eat what I want, and just embrace the day!
4. Why do we let control rule us and when the hell did it come into our lives like that?
Great post as always friend! XOXO
Thanks girl! It’s easy to let the line blur between “driven” and “over controlling” – Which is why is so key to find those special people and places (like Nantucket) that remind you how nice it is to enjoy life a little messy.
Xoxox
that salad looks incredible!! great post, too 🙂
Thanks Hillary! It’s been my go-to lately. I love mixing things up and adding grains to salads.
Oh my gosh lol I feel the same way! It’s always been a struggle for me to completely let go of wanting to be in control. I’m always in awe of others who don’t seem to struggle with that kind of balance.
Having a kid was actually the biggest forfeit of control for me…my toddler challenges me like nothing else I’ve ever experienced….He dictates when I get a chance to workout,sleep, do homework, eat properly, go to work etc.. The most nerve wracking thing, is knowing that raising a kid doesn’t REALLY get much easier…and it is something that is very hard to plan out(perfectly). Thanks for this awesome post, Georgie, it’s nice to know that we’re not alone in this challenge.
Thank you for sharing Kaley. I cannot even BEGIN to imagine the kind of flexibility and patients it takes to raise a child. But again, with the letting go and doing the best with what you’ve got I’m sure there are just so many wonderful messy and beautiful moments
Your oats & your dinner both look on point. <3 And I feel you girl. Sometimes I have to force myself to do things that should honestly come second nature .. and probably do to most people. It's just a matter of being easier on ourselves, right? xo.
Right!? Sometimes I feel like a 45 year woman stuck in a 20 year old’s body. Just gotta learn how to have “fun” whatever that means 😉
I just tried those Justin’s peanut butter cups for the first time (they were in my package from Emily!) and they were SO good.
Food was to be the biggest thing I had control issues with, and YES, wonderful things happen when I started to give that control up. Besides just things like eating brownies and ice cream with friends at midnight instead of sitting there and watching everyone else eat…it’s allowed me to go on trips without worrying about food and just allowed me to be so much more laid-back in general 🙂
Aren’t they the bomb? Some of my favorite food experiences are the ones that are shared with friends (not eaten alone and meticulously counted).
For me, the letting go has come over time…I try to trust that whatever the situation is, that it will turn out at least, okay. Every challenge accepted, great or small, gets you closer to that chill place ☺️ Great post and food as always!
Yes. Working on those challenges because I think it will get easier (or I’ll just get stronger) the more I work at it. <3
wow, I really needed this. My husband is currently in Germany and when I can’t reach him, my brain instantly freaks and goes to worst case scenario. I hate that neither of us are in control of people in a different country and what could happen. Trying to take lots of deep breaths!!!
That’s a tough one! In my family we mostly operate on a “no news is good news” policy which helps when timing gets tough and communication is limited.
What gorgeous photos, your food looks phenomenal.
Properly hungry now even though I just had my dinner!
Glad to hear you’re feeling that you’re slowly but surely moving on from that feeling of needing control 🙂
Thank you so much Sarah for all your kind words <3 That always happens to me when I scroll through instagram after I've eaten #alwayshungry 😉
the part on control issues really speaks to me. i’m the exact same way, so i guess its good to know some others get what i’m feeling, haha, even if its not the best feeling.
(buut on a better note…) horchata almond milk?! where can i try this! and i love siggis! <3
Horchata almond milk has been rocking my world lately. I found it at Whole Food’s which the most reliable for stocking Califia Farms