It's Not About the Cookie

I decided to diet a few weeks back and made an appointment with the local Jenny Craig. Basically, the plan is that you buy all of your food and snacks from them and you drop the weight. And, the weight does come off, but the food is pricey. The consultants eagerly try to sell me additional items that will "help" me in my weight loss plan, but I repeatedly tell them no...that I am on a budget and will only be buying the food. And, in the past weeks I have been successful in losing weight.

Yesterday, after weighing in, etc., the consultant handed me the menu for the upoming week. I made a couple of changes....tuna instead of chicken,...blueberry muffin instead of banana, etc. The consultant, who was happily tapping away at the computer inputting the products I was purchasing, said, "And, what kind of cookie do you want?" I replied, "Uh, I'm really am not a big fan of cookies. I think I will skip the cookie this week." She smiled, and said, "No, you have to have a cookie Ramona. What kind of cookie shall I put down on your menu?" I again replied, "I'm really not wanting a cookie of any sort this week. I will just have an apple that day instead." She frowned and then said again, "I'm sorry, but you have to have a cookie. You will be missing valuable nutrients that day, if you skip the cookie." Then she smiled eagerly and said, "What kind of cookie may I put down on your order?"

At this point, it was not about the cookie anymore. I firmly said, "I am not going to have a cookie this week. I'll just take my chances in living without a cookie." She replied, "May I ask you why you are so opposed to our cookies?" I said, "I just don't want one. Are you suggesting that if I don't get a cookie, I will not be able to buy my week's supply of food?" She stopped for a moment, frowned and said...."No....you can still buy your food." I then said, "Okay. Great!" Without a moment's hesitation, she said, "So you want the cookie?" ..... "No. No cookie" I said.

The consultant went to the stockroom for the food and came back with my order. I looked into the bag and saw the cookie with the rest of my food. I pulled it out and asked her why it was in my order. The consultant replied, "Oh, that must have been an error. I can remove that from your order, or would you just like to go ahead and purchase it since it is already rang up?".... I said "no" to the cookie once again.

So, clearly this was never about the cookie. I felt as though I was being manipulated by sales tactics into purchasing something I didn't want, and she was intent on selling me that cookie. I don't know. Perhaps she was really wanting me to stick to the menu and not having a cookie was going to throw my entire week off the plan and her intentions were genuine. Even now, there may be a big note on my client file that says, "WARNING - DO NOT MENTION COOKIES!!!"

I have already decided that next week, I will just go ahead and take the cookie. I may even tell her that I've decided I want TWO......that'll send her into a tailspin.

It's never just about the cookie. :))

The Impasse

I watched a documentary the other night on a polarizing social issue in our country. There was a video segment of one group that was in favor of the issue meeting the opposing group in front of the city's capital. "Okay." I think. "This is good. They are coming together to try to come to an understanding, to coexist." Seconds later, the opposing side starts shouting, mostly through bullhorns at the other side. In response the other crowd shouts back. Everyone is extremely emotional and crying, and obscenities follow. No one can hear the other side, nor do they want to. They just want to be heard themselves.

And, that is human nature...when it comes down to it, we all just want to be heard. Not just the crowds on the street, but anyone whom suddenly finds themself on the opposing side, shouting, trying to be heard above the other's voices.....My guess is that no one came away from this meeting with any sort of enlightenment. In fact, it probably just produced more contempt.

I don't know what the answer is when we find ourselves on opposite sides of an impasse....Perhaps we could just put down our bullhorns and listen.

My Pet

I'm up before dawn. I couldn't sleep at all last night because my pet kept me up. I have never been a "pet person." But, as with a lot of pet owners, I didn't seek out the pet, it just kind of came into my life one day.

My pet is the proverbial elephant in the room. I acquired this elephant a few years ago. When he was left uninvited on my doorstep, he was untamed and dangerous. I was terrified that he was going to kill me in my sleep. In fact, I was warned several times that he would eventually overpower me and to be prepared for that fate. But, over the months, and then years of having this elephant by my side, he has settled down, almost tame. He has mellowed. I have mellowed. There have even been times that I have climbed upon him and he has taken me for a ride to give me a break from leading him around, from room to room.

We have an understanding, this elephant and I.

I respect him and take very good care of him, and in return he leaves me alone......for the most part. I do occasionally have to take him in for a checkup and he gets a shot. So, the following couple of days, he is uncomfortable and since our relationship has mellowed some, I usually give in and let him crawl into the bed with me for comfort. It is not easy sleeping with an elephant and that is why I am up this morning at dawn.... It was a restless night.