Thanks to the people of the Americas who have been cultivating cacao for over three thousand years introducing it to the globe, to John Cadbury who fattened it up with creamy milk and calorie-packed sugar in the 1800’s and to the West Africans who are the world’s largest producers of cacao today, we have a wonderful thing called chocolate. Serotonin-enhancing, mood-lifting, heart-fixing, bad-day-mending, film-inspiring (starring Johnny Depp, I might add) chocolat. The Swiss refine it, the Belgians do delicious praline nutty things to it, the Dutch turn it into the most delectable drink called Chocomel and I, well… I eat it (or drink it – I’m not fussy). How wonderful the stuff is. So wonderful that we’ve turned it into treats of all shapes, sizes and densities – it’s a pity that it turns us into all shapes, sizes and densities too.
This weekend was a wonderful long one for those of us in the western world, as we celebrated the holiday of chocolate, Easter. We all have our own meaning around this day off, for some of us it’s religious, for many cultural, for some it’s about the change of the seasons and for others it’s simply a day for consuming too much and connecting deeply with close family and friends. But what it seems to be for all of us, is a time to share chocolate. We all have our favourites, from the white candy eggs, to the marshmallow-centred treats and the serious Lindt bunny spoil (with his little jingly bell). I could go on and on…
Now, at this point, I don’t think I need to highlight the fact that I like chocolate. I think the subtle hint has been dropped. So imagine my surprise when I dragged myself up all 3 flights of stairs, after 4 days of wonderful long weekend and overindulging, to reach my apartment last night and realise that I hadn’t eaten any of my chocolaty gifts. Not even one. Not even an ear off Herr Lindt Bunny (he’s German, you know.) From months of (mostly) serious deprivation and healthy eating I was counting down the days to the chocolate invasion – a day of guilt-free consumption. Because just on Easter, chocolate bypasses the hips and the wobbly bits and leaves your system un-calorie-enhanced – much like celery (only far more tasty on the tasty buds and with a lot less roughage). I missed out on that day.
On reflection last night I realised why I hadn’t given into the craving. There were a few reasons really. Firstly, I totally allowed myself to have chocolate on that day. You know, we often get so caught up obsessing over things we don’t have – the car, the house, the job, the partner – which makes us want them more. Yet another argument for the case for ‘everything in moderation’ and appreciating what you have. Secondly, I was so busy chatting, mostly catching up with my most precious, not-so-little, little cousin, that my brain was filled with so much warm, fuzzy affection that I didn’t physically ‘need’ the chocolate that was right in front of my eyes (a win for the sneaky neuro-transmitters in my brain). Lastly, since getting back on track with healthy eating, my body just doesn’t like to be flooded with sugar, too many carbs and fatty foods, it shuts right down and I feel pretty awful, pretty fast – so after stuffing my face with a hearty helping of cheesy potatoes, it was physically impossible to indulge any further. For the first time in the longest time my body, brain and heart were working together (though against me and my chocolate obsession).
And so it is, that I have come to the realisation that I don’t need chocolate. Really, truly, I don’t. Nope. In fact, last night, while curled up on the couch with my most special of special friends after a wonderful day with her, her hubby and their precious youngling, I realised that I don’t need anything. I have everything a girl could ever truly need. I am loved. I love. I am appreciated. I appreciate. I have been broken. I am whole. I am healthy. I am me. And you are all those things too.
This week as we look to things that we think will make us feel better, that will make us more successful, or happier, let’s realise that it’s the simplest things that actually bring the greatest joy. Let’s balance the head, the heart and the body. Let’s celebrate ourselves the way we are. And if we really want to, let’s eat chocolate.
Have a wonderful week.
Yours in heels,
Jo
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