Day Four.  Since you are with you, 24/7—-finding love, in your own unique way—accessing more of it every day for your own pleasure and well being, just seems like a fine idea…..doesn’t it? 

If you could start a journal of LOVE NOTES—ways in which you can see and feel more love in your life—-and, here’s one even better—-love…..on your terms, without the help or expectation that it needs to come from somewhere or someone else—-this would be a very, very good thing, no?  That’s what this series is designed to do.  Each post will explore the loves of your life….what is all ready right there, on the tip of your tongue, the top of your head, and from the times of your life.  Take notes and tuck them away…..for those days when love seems to have slipped through your fingers, you can instantly plug into something special and loving.  Soooooooo………………

WHAT TASTES LIKE LOVE TO YOU?

When I ask myself that question, I immediately think of sweets.  Cookies, in particular.  There is a bakery near my house which has gotten lots of my business over the years—-if my car could have an APP, it would be the one that would drive to Celebrity Bakery, every day, at 3:00pm.  As I have said to friends, who were wondering about the crumbs still stuck to my lips—-”at Celebrity Bakery, every cookie is a party.”  Their lusciously iced works of art and wonder change all during the year to celebrate the season. Festive. Food. Fun.  How could you not love that?

That’s what comes to mind, first.  But, lately I have begun to wonder if the tastes I associate with love—-actually love me back.  Take cookies, again.  In addition to my favorite taste combination of being sweet-but-not-too-sweet, and, also reminding me of the birthday parties from way-back yesteryear, I must admit that they also send a tiny little rebel yell throughout my system as I eat them, in the car, on the way  home.  If I eat them when no one is looking, vacuum the crumbs out of the front seat before my husband sees—then, could they possibly have ANY calories?  Think of the tiny little “sin” I have just gotten away with!  The joy.  The triumph. The rush.

But, wait just a minute.

The truth is—-what seems like LOVE—-in the moment, is actually an itty bitty but insidious form of self-abuse in the aggregate.  Ultimately, the pretty but empty calories only propel the desire for more empty calories.  And, the sugar rush only makes my energy drop like a hot rock about an hour later.  I can go from “cookie-to-cranky” in no time. And, I choose to do this, day after day.  Would you call THAT…….love?  

So, today, as you are making your “Tastes That Say Love” list ……please consider taking a page from my notebook and be a bit more discerning.  Think about the things that love you back, every time.  Then, when you have the urge to eat something……maybe during or after a stressful day….to fill in that “inner gap”……it will really end up being just that. Loves that love you back.

Please let me hear from you—-this list could help all of us—-tune in to our own personal Food Channel with the true tastes of love.