“Goodbye to You”

“When I loved myself enough, I began leaving whatever wasn’t healthy. That meant people, jobs, my own beliefs and bad habits — anything that kept me small. My judgment called it disloyal. Now I see it as self-loving.” ~Kim McMillen

Last week I wrote about meeting the Dry January challenge. That post hit home with a lot of readers. Some of you emailed to tell me about the habits you’re breaking (sugar was a big one) and other health changes you’re making. One reader hinted that there are other habits in her life — aside from food and drink — that “need to be cleaned up.”

Today’s quote speaks to that idea, reminding us that we need to leave behind anything that “keeps us small” as we move forward. Sometimes this is harder than saying no to fudge brownies and pinot noir.

As you work through your own cleanse or improvement goals, think about these questions: What brings you joy? Who is holding you back? Who lifts you up? Who drags you down? Where do you find inner peace? What do you truly value? Who (or what) is keeping you small?

Just to keep it fun, I dug out an old anthem to inspire my own efforts — the 1980s Scandal hit, “Goodbye to You.” Featuring Patty Smyth as the lead vocalist, it’s the perfect break-up song to belt out in the kitchen while you’re dumping Hostess Ding Dongs in the trash, deactivating Twitter, or thinking about leaving a job that doesn’t reward you with as much as you put into it. ~CL