Life

It was the 60s probably the time between innocence and total madness. School education was semi British and the value systems were all Christian. One lesson however that struck me most was the one on balanced diets. Not sure if it was part of a biology class but I still remember the lovely pictures of  meats, fruit and veg. We learnt about the body needing fats, sugar, minerals, carbohydrates and protein. Not for us the vegetarian or vegan option. Not for us the low fat, low carb diets. No diets at all . It was all about what your body needs, it was about building strong bodies and strong minds. No food was bad it was all about moderation. We played for hours in blazing summer heat burnt to berries by the end of the day. Our parents never worried about sun strokes, or of us being burnt by the sun. Nobody bothered too much it was more about getting the right amount of exercise without the pressure of having to get it. We had fun and that was it. Some of us were fat, some seriously skinny. We hadn't heard of obesity or anorexia. We were just the way we were. Some forty years later everything changed. Suddenly we had body types, we heard that one had to be slim, we heard about having straight hair, about the all important gym membership. We needed weight training to strengthen our bodies. We stoped writing letters, we had email. Suddenly all our conversations were about the weight we've gained, how hard it was to get rid of it. How exercise is such a chore but had to be done. The pressure was building. All of a sudden my coconut oil was bad for me, red ,eat was bad for me, vegetarian was the way to go, the it became vegan. People look aghast when I tucked into my meat with relish. They were shocked when I said I hated vegetables and refused to become a rabbit. The pitying looks increased as I got rounder. No gym membership but I did redeem myself with some yoga.  Why did everyone look surprised when I did all the housework myself, cooked food at home, didn't care much for eating out.  No one talked about my lack of aches and pains or about the fact that I didn't moan about feeling tired all the time. I guess no one understands that we were brought up to get on with life. Whining in our time was disgraceful behaviour. So the world has changed and I have too. I eat meat once or twice a week and eat fish instead. Most people believe I have made lifestyle changes and am following a diet. Not at all. The fact is that I prefer sea food to meat. The fact is my 85 year old mother is a brilliant cook and the home food is so good I don't feel the need to eat out. The world did change and so did people and I did too but I decided long ago that the best way to live was to live on my terms. The best I could do was to be myself and not aspire to be what the world wants me to be. I don't need to be wished for women's day because it makes no difference to my life. I respect myself and I don't need a day to define me. Yes I would have loved to skydive I may have wanted to skate or something so out of reach but we all have our wish lists don't we.but for now happiness is a bowl of good food.