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WEEKLY COLUMN BY DAVID BENTLEY

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That Yucky Feeling

The alarm clock is making a hideous noise. My eyes burn. All eight sinuses are throbbing, and my nose is stuffed up. There's a rumbling sound coming from my slightly nauseated stomach. My head is pounding, and I'm wondering how I'm going to make it from my bed to the bathroom. Is some strange strain of flu attacking me?

Suddenly I recognize the symptoms. Ramadan's month of fasting has ended. Now it's time for holiday parties, potlucks, and open houses. Moving from latkes with applesauce and sour cream, I've gone through the sugared nuts, cheese balls, and artichoke dip directly to the cookies, cakes, and chocolate. Although I no longer drink, memories of wine and spirit bottles, hot buttered rum, and stiff eggnog come back to me now.

With a loud, pitiful groan, I heave myself out of bed and head to the bathroom. Soon that familiar "plop, plop, fizz, fizz" sound reassures me that I'm not going to die yet. A bracing shower, two eye drops in each eye, and a snort of nasal spray up each nostril soon make me able to face another morning. Unfortunately a glance in the mirror does bring back a few doubts.

Is this fun? I think not. Yet every year I seem to have a total lapse of memory that allows me to overindulge. Suddenly, those rich, sugary, dairy-laden treats are being showered upon me by well-meaning individuals as we "celebrate the season." It's as if we think that by gorging ourselves on gastronomic goodies we can become happy and contented, and somehow make our troubles go away.

Unfortunately, that is not how the universe works. Instead, the partying seems to bring more pain, agony, and hardship. So, now that I've pulled myself together and put on my Christmas scarf and coat, I think I'll head over to a local art studio. I've heard that they have an open house today.

  • How do you handle holiday celebrations?

  • What will you do differently this year?

  • To whom can you look for support?

  • What will bring you true happiness and contentment?

© 2002 David Bentley

David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world.

He can be reached by phone at 360.378.8436

by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com

or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com

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