What Emptiness Are You Trying to Fill?

There has been a sad situation at the place I work.  No details here are necessary.  But it has been emotional enough that I’ve cycled through many of the grief emotions: numbness, denial, anger, disbelief, and sadness.  
 
Last night after I finished my dinner, I had my usual shout from my taste buds for something sweet. So I did what I always do – had a bite of a dill pickle.  Why? It confuses the heck out of the Buddettes and by the time they figure out what hit them, they decide to stay quiet for the rest of the night to avoid another shock to their little taste bud receptors.
 
But that didn’t do it. The internal voice I was hearing was – “Hey, let’s go to Culver’s and get a salted caramel sundae with cherry pie filling topping!”  When you hear these types of signals – or one’s like, “Why don’t we order an extra large pizza with everything on it – you don’t have to finish it…hahaha..yes you do,” – it’s time to pause and listen to your body.
 
What emptiness is screaming for attention?  Loneliness? Loss?  Anger?  For me, it was sadness.  
 
What I did, when I heard the Culver’s Call, was to sit down and think.  

How was my stomach?  I focused for a minute on it and it was satiated and comfortable.  No needs there.
How was my mouth? Like the call for something sweet, sometimes we are just mouth hungry.  But the pickle took care of the Buddettes so my mouth was now fine.
Where was this call for sweets coming from?
Ahh…my heart.  My heart was sad.  Very sad.
 
So how does one feed a heart?
By doing something loving for oneself.
 
I knew that if I tried to feed my heart by saddling up Fern, my hippie-mobile, and going to Culver's – the guilt and the disappointment would be far greater than the momentary pleasure. Besides gaining a pound, it would toss me out of the fat adapting stage I’ve been in and I would have to start again to get back into Ketosis.  Not worth it.
 
Every article on sadness says to go for a walk – especially if you can go out in nature.  I love that advice, but as friends who know me know, I love the concept of the great outdoors, I just don’t like bugs and this is a heavy mosquito season here in Wisconsin, so nope.
 
I tried distracting myself by doing something I love – beading.  But I’m working on an intricate pattern and I was too distracted to work on it in my current state of angst.

Some say a soothing bath. Maybe essential oils.  A chick flick.
 
What I did….and sorry to admit that it was still in the 6:00 pm hour….I closed up downstairs and went up to my nest – my bed.
 
Now in my defense, my nest is a cozy haven, a retreat from the world, with salt lamps and tiny sparkle lights, and a bed that sits up like a lounge chair.  And in further defense of this move, I sleep with 7 dogs and they all sensed my sadness so each one snuggled in perfectly with no wild shenanigans tonight.  And everyone – or at least every dog lover – knows that snuggling with a dog or 7 is the best anti-depressant ever.
 
And by light of day, I’m still on track with my Keto journey.  I feel great about that.  And I’m sipping and savoring my bullet proof coffee, ready to launch a brand new day here in my Enchanted Cottage.
 
Wishing you many enchanted days and ways to stay in Ketosis  so you too can live your best life.
 
PS – check out the Resources page of this blog for some of my favorite blogs and “go-to’s.”  Coming up soon in the blog is my answer to Ketosis questions – the What’s, How’s, and Why’s – so stay tune.


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Small Print: I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on the internet. My opinions are just that.  I frequent Google and read lots of articles on health and wellness. We all need to be proactive when it comes to our health.  Check things out for your self and/or find a doctor who is savvy on non-Big Pharma nutrition. ​​

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