Apparently I need to clear something up. Seltzer water and carbonation are not in and of themselves bad for the environment. I have just been paralyzed by the Brita commercial that shows a person at the gym with a disposable water bottle when the voiceover says, “An hour on the treadmill. A lifetime in the landfill.”
Ugh, guilt me deadly. So, in saving the planet, I was just trying to keep a few extra plastic bottles out of the recylcling bin.
Filed under life
A few months ago I voluntarily decided to give up drinking soda, Coke Zero more specifically. I just became concerned with the amount I was drinking on a daily basis. Once I was honest with myself, I realized I was consuming at least two cans a day … more like three if it was extra stressful. And, it’s always stressful when you wear your anxiety on your sleeve.
That’s a lot of artificial sweetener and a lot of caffeine on top of the two or three cups of coffee I have everyday. Plus, it was tasty in the moment, but then I just felt “furblungit” afterward. Really, it’s not the caffeinated boost I’m after. I love the taste of Coke Zero, don’t get me wrong. But, I’m addicted to the fizz. I love carbonation. Love it.
I made the move to cut the habit by leaving the cases of soda at Target instead of trucking them to my house every week. The problem is that Matt isn’t really worried about drinking soda and still really wants to have cans of Coke Zero in the house.
Several weeks into my new soda-free lifestyle, I was tested in a big way. Sure, I had thoughts of stopping at CVS for a quit hit of a 20 oz. bottle. But, I didn’t. I always talked myself down from the ledge. And, then Matt stumbled across a special on cases of Coke at the store and brought home three 12-packs of the forbidden elixir “for himself”. It brought me to my knees. I couldn’t handle it. They were talking to me all day long. I thought about the cans just sitting there in the basement and how delicious it would be to knock one back with my yogurt, or after lunch, or at the park, or on the walk with Zoe. I was suddenly living the life of an addict. I rationalized my way into having one can a day until the cases were gone and then, once again, I would quit for good. I couldn’t help myself. I was weak, and they were oh-so-strong.
But, I’ve turned a corner and channeled a little “Dr. Drew.” Matt brings home Coke Zero whenever he wants, and I just don’t drink it. Falling off the wagon may have been the fuel I needed to stay clean. I was so mad at myself for giving in so easily that I am now on a mission to show that multi-billion dollar beverage king who’s boss.
I also realized that I set myself up for failure by trying to kick my seltzer water habit at the same time. Again, it’s the carbonation. I was trying to save myself and the planet simultaneously. Screw that. It’s all about me and my precious carbonated liquid.
You can’t take a smoker’s cigarettes away and deny them gum, too. Baby steps. I’ll tackle Mother Earth next month.
Filed under life
stinkerbean 