August 26, 2009

Hi all forgive me. It has been 2 weeks since my last post! I let business and tiredness get in the way of what has become very, very important to me…..a BetterMe. All is well I'm still working away at getting "Better".

Week 4 of the BetterU program talked about support and accountability. I want to talk about that today. Have you all heard of the "Just Say No" campaign? "Just Say No" was an advertising campaign, part of the U.S. "War on Drugs", prevalent during the 1980s and early 1990s, to discourage children from engaging in recreational drug use by offering various ways of saying no. Well I was very active in that campaign through the bank that I worked for in Beverly Hills CA. I actually was chosen to do a radio PSA for the effort. Who knew that the "Just Say No" Campaign would be resurrected in my BetterU life? My family and supporters have taken a Just Say No approach to keeping me accountable!

One of the rewards in the program for week 2 was a fat-free frozen treat from your favorite place. I decided that instead of going out to get a fat-free frozen treat I would buy a 1/2 gallon of frozen yogurt from the grocery store. I was on the phone with my sister when I was making this great decision and she answered with a very slow "Noooooo that's not what the reward said to do." So I ended up putting the yogurt back vowing never to talk on the phone with my sister while shopping again.

Again while we were all visiting together my youngest sister pulled out a bag of strawberry Twizzlers! Without thinking I reached for one she snatched them to her chest and yelled NO! Now I ask you what is wrong with one stinking Twizzler?

Even at my rehab center where I work I'm being held accountable. I was walking the floor on the women's side and spied double stuffed Oreo's on the coffee table. All of my girls were on the patio. Again without thinking I reached for one, almost had it in my mouth when one of the girls saw me ran off the patio and yelled "Pastor Pat NO! Put that down!" Everywhere I go it's no no no. Can a girl get a break!

1 Corinthians 10:23 says "All things are legitimate [permissible--and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome)."

This means that we are free to do what ever we want. But is what ever we want helpful expedient, profitable, and wholesome for us? I am thankful for my Just Say No accountability partners and the BetterU program.