Just Food

"Food is not my best friend, my confidante or my lover. Food does not fix broken promises, broken hearts or broken dishwashers. It doesn't clean my house, organize my life or organize my mind. Food won't hold my hand and walk me through the dark when I'm afraid or whisper good advice in my ear when I'm about to screw up. Food does not carry a tissue in its back pocket to wipe away tears, nor does food have a shoulder to lean on when I just can't go another step. It does not fix any of my problems.

Food is not my advocate when I am treated unfairly or my spokesperson when I can't speak for myself. Food does not make right old wrongs, does not erase childhood trauma or make past abuse finally okay. It does not eliminate long-standing grudges, old mistakes or pain. Food does not make the disappointment go away or play games with me when the boredom sets in. Food does not help me deal with a job I hate, a person I hate or my own self-hate. Food does not give me things, will not make me prettier or smarter or thinner (especially not thinner).

Food will cover up the truth, food will distort reality, and food will pretend to do all the things that food really can't do.

Food, I am learning my friends, is just that. It's just food."
                                                  - Bianca W., Woodstock, Georgia USA. Lifeline Magazine November 2012