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Bell, not because they were the greatest things since sliced cheese. But, I was busy! Working two jobs, and occasionally a third gig, left little time or energy to grocery shop and cook. My lifestyle needed a major overhauling. What I needed to accept, more than anything, was that my life was worth living, and living very mindfully.

I accept that back pain is unnecessary. I accept that sugar has a very real chemical reaction in my brain and triggers unhealthy responses in my body. I accept that falling asleep before we back out of the parking lot of a restaurant is abnormal, thereby, unhealthy. I accept that I may have to address my workaholism, which is another compulsive behavior, in order to create more time and space in my life to grocery shop sensibly and prepare meals. I accept that I am worth it.

I accept that just because my father lived for 15 years on dialysis, I can choose differently. I accept that there's no need for me, out of a deeply-rooted, subconscious, twisted form of family loyalty to follow the same path. I accept that just because mom's stricken with high blood pressure, and sister's obese, that losing 106 pounds was really the best thing for me, because I choose to live. All of these affirmations precede accepting my body the way it is. It's not about the body. It's about the psychological conditions that manifest themselves outwardly, in not-so-good, risky ways.

My face is round, and my cheeks are full and juicy. I am by no means thin. I accept that by America's standards, I may still be considered a little full-figured, even at size 11. I accept that my journey and my learning is about balance, not deprivation, or the opposite extreme of over-indulgence. I accept that some days I am so tired that cooking is the last thing I desire doing for me, or my husband. But, I do it, anyway. Because we, two, as a unit, wake up every morning and reaffirm, that we still want to live our heaven-on-earth, this thing we call our sweet eternity, together... right here, in a two-bedroom apartment.

We accept that it may not always be easy, and we're both okay with this.

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