A few years ago, we enjoyed a wine tour with some friends. It was one of those days you look back on with fondness. We hopped into the Tasteful Excursions van and spent a sunny summer day winding up the highway and down little known country roads, being treated to a commentary on the history of the vineyards in our area. Great friends, inspiring views, fabulous wineries, and so much wine tasting! We frivolously picked up this special bottle of "oak-aged port-like dessert wine" and talked about saving it for New Year's Eve and drinking it with our friends. For some reason, we didn't drink it on December 31st. Maybe we thought we'd save it for our anniversary, who knows. So it sat in our cupboard for over a year, maybe even two, when I began having some health issues just before Christmas 2017. Little did I know that alcohol, especially RED WINE would be off limits for me indefinitely, maybe even longer.
It took a few months before a naturopath helped to diagnose my condition, the main symptoms being facial rash and swelling (not fun!). I have what is commonly known as a histamine intolerance. Basically, for some reason, my body isn't doing a good job of ridding itself of histamine, so when I have too much, my symptoms show up. Anyway, I won't go into detail here, but if you want to know more about histamine intolerance and how to heal, check out these two highly recommended websites, Healing Histamine and FactvsFitness.com. The bottom line was to stay away from (quite a long list of) high histamine foods, of which alcohol is one of the main culprits.
Whenever I open the kitchen door to where we keep our alcohol, I see this little bottle back in the corner. And I think to myself, Why didn't you enjoy it sooner? Why did you wait for the 'perfect' moment?
This experience reminds me to stop waiting for the BEST time to do something. If it's a good idea in 6 days or 6 weeks, or 6 months, it could be a better idea now.
So, I'm reminded to:
- Use the fancy dishes more than 3 times a year (even if I have to wash them by hand) because they were a gift to me and they are lovely. One day they'll be sitting in an estate sale in perfect condition and no one will be interested in them.
- Wear that top I really love more than I normally would because one day it might be ruined or I might not fit it anymore!
- Go outdoors regularly and get a good walk in because one day I might not be able to walk anymore.
- Call my mom more regularly because one day she might not be able to answer anymore.
- Spend regular time enjoying my kids because one day they might move out of town and I'll hardly ever see them.
- Tell my friends I appreciate them, even if it's not their birthday, because they need to hear it and they're not getting any younger! ;)
- Spend time pursuing my creative practices because one day my eyes and hands might not work as well!
We have several bottles of wine we are saving for that special day, LOL. Maybe we will have to reconsider. Call your mom every single day, LOL. I wish I had and know it is too late. My thing would be to really get to know my parents and their young years. I have lots of knowledge of it but there are still questions and no one left to answer them.
ReplyDeletebetty
Sometimes we need to be reminded of this. Thank you for doing that.
ReplyDeleteHello Neta!, It's been a very long time since I have been to your blog. happy Thanksgiving to you. Yes, I basically had to give up both Alcohol and caffeine a few years ago because I have afib. Yes, we all need to be reminded that each day is precious and must be lived fully TODAY because because once it becomes yesterday it's gone. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteYears ago I read of a woman who lost everything when her house burned flat. When she was interviewed she said, 'my husband got me a bottle of very expensive perfume ten years ago. for my birthday. I had never used it, I didn't want to waste it. Now it's been destroyed, and when I can I'm going out to replace it with another bottle."
ReplyDeletethat, my friends, is the stupidest woman going. Im sure her husband wanted her to open it, and USE it, so he could enjoy it--and her--in the process. She never caught onto that. And she went out and spent more money to replace a bottle she had never used, to not-use all over again.
Once I read that, I realized that gifts are as much about the giver as they are about the gift. use the perfume, use the pretty scarf, the bed spread, the cookies, instead of tucking them away for an occasion you might never see.
and I try very hard to do just that. Gifts are a two way street, arent they...
So true, Mittens. A good reminder. Even if it's a gift we've purchased for ourselves, it's a way of practicing self love :)
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