My personal challenge for 2013 is to not “gift” sugar, all year. You would think this would be easy as far as resolutions go, but it’s Day 14 and I’ve almost slipped up every single day so far. The gifting of sugar is ingrained in our society, and with the holidays still winding down, there are plenty of opportunities to test my willpower.
I went into this resolution knowing that I might not make it. After all, if it was easy to accomplish without double-dog-daring myself, I’d already being doing it.
But this is important to me. Sugar is a poison that has ravaged my family. My husband is sick. My father is blind. I want a better tomorrow for the ones I can still save.
I rant, I warn, I teach– and yet, still, I gift it.
It’s little things. I re-fill my boss’s candy machine. I pick up lollipops for my nieces. I find candy shaped like Star Wars characters and I buy enough for all the fans I know. I order a flaming souffle for the kids-on-a-first-date two tables away.
I will probably not succeed in this resolution, but it’s important for me to try. I want to be satisfied with every gift I give. I want to know that it is building a better tomorrow, not just a better moment. I want to be conscious of every gift I almost give. I want to know if I am being manipulated by the media, bad education, and past habits.
Maybe this year I can go 20 days… or 100 days, or 200 days. Then I’ll double that. Then I’ll triple it. Pretty soon, I won’t remember why it was important to ever purchase sugar at all.
I keep hearing that resolutions were made to be broken, or the opposite– that breaking a resolution is like breaking a promise to yourself.
But the truth, as it is in most situations, lies somewhere in between. Resolutions are lofty dreams, a path of fluffy clouds that lead straight to the future you want most. It’s not a solid path, or a perfect one, and it’s easy to slip up or fall through. But it’s the creating of that prophesy that gives your dreams a tangible form. It’s the first step into the cloudy abyss that gives you the courage to take the remaining steps and unveil the future of your dreams.
Maybe not this year, or today, but someday.
Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so you shall become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.
- James Allen
Some of my related posts about sugar and diabetes:
- I wish I were Diabetic
- There and healthy again, a non-diabetics tale.
- Sweet in a Bad Way
- Who invited sugar to the party?
- I don’t know if you’re skinny, but you’re most certainly a…
I like this resolution!!!! Sugar is too easy to slip into our daily lives…
It really is! Potlucks, holidays, birthdays, housewarmings, favors, quick gifts… it’s just so easy to make an excuse for sneaking in some sugar. Dave and I have been sugar free for years now, and I don’t necessarily want to convert people to our level… but I certainly don’t want to contribute to their sugar intake either.
Thanks for the support!!
I always look forward to my visits…
I think not giving sugar is (for the most part) a good idea. But I think that a lot of times, to live up to the goal, you need to have a replacement. Like how a million posts ago you told me about the Elmo-looking fruit plate in lieu of cake at a birthday. So I think that to live up to the goal, I’d need to find replacements for go-to gifts. For housewarmings, my husband and I almost always give a plant. A bottle of nice olive oil could be a good quick gift.
A plant is a great idea! I never think of it because I’m so bad with them myself, but most people are more focused than I am.
Olive oil is genius! We have a place out here that makes custom blends in lovely bottles. 
Thanks for the great ideas, Emma!
Did someone say Star Wars characters shaped candy?!
Yep, it’s pretty much the most amazing thing ever. There were these R2 gummies that were appropriately detailed, with all the right colors. Dave was like, “Beep beep beeeep!” which I assume meant, “Break your resolution because these things are so awesome that the world will explode if people don’t get them!”. But we didn’t get them and the world didn’t explode, so I suppose he was wrong.
I love this Rara. Love the R2D2 candy, the way Dave imitated R2, but most of all the way that you pointed out that Dave was wrong AGAIN. haha
Someone’s gotta keep Dave’s ego in check.
Dearest Rara,
I have not received any Star Wars shaped candy from you. I find your lack of sharing disturbing.
I’ll send you a picture!
Hahaha. I almost had you…
“Resolutions are lofty dreams, a path of fluffy clouds that lead straight to the future you want most.” Wonderfully said!
Good for you!
It’s a great idea and not something most of us think about, though I wish more would.
This is my “other hat”: http://healthscapingnw.com/2013/01/08/healthy-meetings-at-work/
I love the saying! I didn’t know I was being “lofty!” But I have always had such big dreams!
Big dreams are beautiful things!
I am hopeless with sugar – I buy a packet of sweets/lollies and POOF they are gone within minutes – I inhale and don’t chew! Apparently the white evil stuff makes you age quicker also…. Think I may start this revolution/resolution too! Great Post Rawr. xx
The world could use more sugar-reduction resolution revolutions! I want everyone to be able to continue to see, write, and dance into the triple digits of age… so the sugar must go, no more lollies!
Thank you for your reading and your comments, and your support!
That’s a great goal! Sugar is such a big part of most people’s lives in our food = love world, so it’s wonderful that you are even attempting to stop gifting it. I think every little bit counts with resolutions, so don’t feel bad if you fall off the wagon some/most days!
Oh, I really want to try going sugar-free… I have never really attempted it before… even if I just managed a week it would be quite amazing. All the best to you and your family
I know I sound like another zealot, but it’s SO WORTH IT!
Giving up sugar completely changed my life for the better… there hasn’t been a day that I regretted losing all that weight, getting back focus, the improved eyesight, etc. 
Thanks for your comments and your good wishes! 
Maybe you need to come up with a substitute gift that would be just as fun for you to give? That way this resolution doesn’t feel so cold turkey?
After all, one has to be true to self – so cheers to you meeting your challenge!
*clicks coffee cup against screen* Cheers!!
Good for y’all! I am not a sweets fiend, and have a candy dish on my desk for everyone else to enjoy (but don’t get me near chips or pretzels). But I have discovered since tracking my food that sugar is everywhere and so hard to avoid! My morning yogurt is crazy loaded with it. There has to be an easier way to do this!
Sugar is absolutely everywhere. http://rarasaur.wordpress.com/2012/09/13/surprisingly-sweet-in-a-bad-way/ The easiest thing I’ve done is to just find sugar-free things that satisfy me and ignore everything except the sugar. I don’t pay attention to the sodium or the fat or calories… because if you’re cutting sugar, none of the rest really matters. It naturally lowers. Even after 5 sugar-free years, I’m healthy despite that strategy.
Howdy! Congratulations! I nominated you for the Inspiring Blogger Award. Please see http://cvillewinter.wordpress.com/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
My hubby would love to have you around. He’s a sugacholic of note. Me, not so much so. Hubby battles cause I never think of getting anything sweet into the house. Poor thing.
I’ve been really lax with sugar lately with myself and my sons. Thank you for the reminder that this white drug affects our future.
P.S. I’m stealing the James Allen quotation. Just wanted to let you know.
Rara,
How about instead of eliminating it completely, which is extremely tough to do, you limit your sugar intake. That way your goal is much more attainable and you’re not stressing yourself out over breaking your resolution. Sugar is in way too many foods to get rid of it entirely anyhow.
Oh, for me, I’ve been off sugar completely for years now. Dave and I corrected our diets together when he was diagnosed with diabetes. http://rarasaur.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/my-sugar-less-journey/ I’m just trying to stop giving it to others. It’s not stressful so much as confusing and … slow. I forget how many normal gifts are packed with sugar.
Oh…I knew that…
Just trying to keep you on your toes is all.
haha!
But, but, but… sugar is delicious! It’s a key ingrediant in ice cream and cake and cookies and brownies and chocolate candy and all the other fun dessert creations my wife and I make at home. That being said, perhaps I am guilty of falling back on gifting these items as a default simply because it is easy to do so and am therefore participating in the major issue our society is dealing with right now. I should find other gifts to give. Healthier. More personal. But at the same time I know that some of the recipients of these gifts love them and think of them as personal gifts. So, while I won’t cease and desist from gifting sugar altogether, you have got me thinking about making sure it is the right gift for the person on the receiving end. By doing that maybe I’ll be less of contributor to the overall problem…?
You can make sugar-free deliciousness at home, too.
I fall back on those gifts for the same reason, but there are alternative to sugary gifts that people see as personal… I’m sure of it, even if I haven’t quite figured it out yet, haha! 
Yes, when I read through all the blogs about weight loss and those trying to cut sugar, it’s so often the gifts from people that send them back to bad decisions because “they don’t want to be rude” and whatnot. So yes, it would be great if we could all cut down on sugar gifting, it might make for a healthier world! 
Great idea!! Also, I LOVE that you send desserts to first date tables, what a fantastic idea!!! Errrr at least it was before your resolution, heheheh. I may have to do that soon, I be they’d love it.
Oh they get a huge kick out of it! I’ve been doing it since Dave explained to me how stressful/expensive a first date is for a guy. I look for the signs of extreme nervousness, to make sure it’s not a random date…. and it’s a nice touch.
So sweet, definitely going to hi-jack that idea!
One of my biggest weaknesses. I am determined to cut down significantly in the sugar department. It goes well most days, but then others………. Perhaps if you had to hand out a sheet of paper with all of the health hazards related to sugar consumption then people wouldn’t consume so much. But I doubt it, we all know how bad it is, yet most consume anyway. Silly people. Thanks for another great post.
It’s true. Most of us are sick and tired of hearing all the things that are bad for us. But after 5 years of sugar-free living, I’m an advocate to say the least. If you give just one thing up, give up sugar.
Thanks for reading!!
Reblogged this on Jonathan Hilton.
You know, I’m STILL waiting for my “Star Wars” candy characters, sugar or not……
haha, yay for Star Wars fandom!!
Thanks, rarasaur. Sugar has been poison in my life, and so many lives, for so long — U.S. citizens eat an enormous amount of different sugars, starting with High-fructose corn syrup in EVERYTHING! Thanks so much for taking a stand.
Reblogged this on Diabetic Redemption and commented:
I came upon this post during my routine reading of posts this morning. No additional words of mine are required.
To realize this is a problem & that you are perpetuating the problem is a great step. Even if you only make it 1 day at least you are trying. I only have great wishes for you!
(Sorry for the slowness of this reply, I’m catching up to all the replies I got in this week of sore-butt-ness.
) I’ve made it to day 41– wahoo! So far, so good. It’s actually getting easier!
Each day gives us a new opportunity to live our lives the way we visualize them. Sugar is hidden in so many things that it is almost impossible to eliminate; but you are doing what you can and I applaud you for that. I know that diabetes is a life-changing condition — my father-in-law lived with Type 1 for 60 years and my brother-in-law is living with it now. It requires the kind of vigilance that is exhausting over time. I hope that we will see more promising treatments before too many more people are affected.
(Sorry for the slowness of this reply, I’m catching up to all the replies I got in this week of sore-butt-ness.
) Thank you for reading and popping by to say hey! Yes, diabetes can be really destructive. My friend at work.. his dad just his leg amputated. When I hear stories like that, my desire to share the knowledge I’ve accumulated is renewed. Sugar is definitely sneaky, and I think that’s why so many people consume too much. That’s for your thoughts on this, I really appreciate it. 
It is hard to break the giving sugar habit. It’s a gift that most people will like (unless they can’t have it). It doesn’t cost much and sometimes it comes in it’s own pretty wrapping. I’m sure you’ll find a creative solution.
(Sorry for the slowness of this reply, I’m catching up to all the replies I got in this week of sore-butt-ness.
) Thanks for reading! Yes, breaking the sugar habit is tough… I’m still struggling with it a bit, but so far stickers and nuts are going over fairly well! 
It’s cool I know you get a ton of feedback and it takes time to get to. I still love ya
Btw…I like macadamias though I have more stickers than I know what to do with. Guess I should use them huh?
This is a post meant for me too! I have always gifted my son with sugar – mostly in the form of chocolate, in a Christmas stocking, an Easter basket (because Jesus was all about resurrecting chocolate?), and sugar does permeate so much of my life and my family’s life. I am committed to reducing most of the sugar load in my life, and I love the idea of not gifting it! Cheers! Jerri
(Sorry for the slowness of this reply, I’m catching up to all the replies I got in this week of sore-butt-ness.
) Yes! I give chocolate and whatnot for all the various holidays, though when I think about it… I don’t know why. It’s getting easier and easier to not gift it. Only 2 months in and it’s already starting to feel like a weird gift. I have high hopes for the future!
That’s great, and very inspiring! Thank you.
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