Today I've been scanning some of Husband's family photos for a project his cousin is doing. This photo is of my MIL at about 16 years old. She would have been about 96 now.

Today I completed Silver Level 4, #2. How do you deal with setbacks? I answered that I smile and go on, and when I'm really committed that can be true. But I can just sit down and quit if I experience a little setback when I'm already "down."

Beck Chapter 5, Day 5 is "eat slowly and mindfully." Just eating at the dining room table has made me more mindful, but I can see how that too can become habit and habits can become mindless. This Day looks at some good tools for remaining conscious while eating and for remembering to eat slowly:

calm atmosphere (a benefit to being older: meals are much calmer than when sharing them with, e.g., 5-year-olds!)

start with hot foods which must be eaten more slowly, to remind you to continue eating slowly

make changes to your table to remind you to eat slowly -- different napkin, silverware, dishes, centerpiece/decorations

&c., &c., &c.

My personal insight for today: No one is going to take away my food if I don't eat it up quickly (!! !!). I've never had anyone take away my food, whether quickly eaten or not. But I do think a lot of my eating misbehaviors are from my lower-middle-class childhood, not too much money and 4 kids plus Mama and Da to share it. One learns to be "grabby." INSIGHT: I have plenty. I am well and truly blessed. Though still not rich or even middle-middle-class income-wise, I have plenty!

Another personal insight in this morning's reflections: I want to lose weight --> I want to diet and exercise --> I do what I want -- I DO WHAT I WANT

You know, life is good.