Extreme Thinking

A few days ago, I decided to give up having coffee every day. Once in awhile maybe, just not everyday. I told myself I didn't really need it, that it was a good way to get off of the little bit of dairy I still use and to cut back on all the sugar I need to make coffee even suitable to drink. So I decided to quit coffee AND sugar cold turkey. This shouldn't be a problem.

Right.

I'm on day 3. My body is hating me right now as I'm trying to detox. I kinda feel like there is a knife trying to push its way out from behind my eye. I'm slightly shaky, as in my hand won't stay still (no, I don't have ADHD). And I'm groggy like I'm in the middle of a dream I can't wake up from. Nice. And all because I said no to coffee.

Addiction? Absolutely. And right now every single part of me is begging to run down the street to Circle K for some hot cinnamon coffee topped off with vanilla creamer and mixed with some raw sugar. On a chilly day like today, coffee seems like perfection. I keep telling myself no. Instead I'm going to bundle up and head out into the cold 50' weather for a brisk walk. It's my way of combating this vice.

This got me thinking: are all vices and addictions bad? Clearly we know abusing drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gambling and sex are unhealthy addictions and can lead to serious problems. But what about my "innocent" addicitions? Coffee, lip gloss, texting while driving (which is now illegal here!), tanning, and a certain former Phoenix Suns player. (Ha! Kidding on the Suns player... sorta!). None of these may be horrible but yet there are certain risks behind all of them: spending excessive money, possible harmful driving situations, UVB exposure, etc. But does that mean I should cut them all out of my life?

I guess what it all comes down to, yet again, is balance and moderation. I'm an extreme person. I'm either in all the way or not at all. And I've had to learn that's not the best way to live my everyday life. In Proverbs 25:16 Solomon says, "If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down" (BBE). The Geneva Study Bible says this verse means to "use moderately the pleasures of this world." There you go, balance.

In a world of extreme makeovers, ultimate fighting champions, and fear factor records, balance isn't always accepted. I remember in college trying to do every activity I was in to the extreme. During my senior year I was a RA (floor leader), Senior RA (leader of all the RAs in the dorm), Missions Team Leader, Government TA, RNC Campaign Student Team Leader, newspaper columnist, was working in the English Department and writing my senior paper. It went beyond being passionate to just plain wearing myself out! I remember at a RA retreat one of our Hall Directors talking about this very thing: going from extreme to moderation. It was a hard decision, but I had to cut some things out of my life to bring back some balance. And that last semester ended up being the best one yet!

I love that I am a passionate person but I'm learning to wean in my passionate ways when they hit extreme. Balance really just means we're trusting. It means we have peace. And it means our lives aren't off-tilt. 'Cause when things are off-tilt, they just seem to crash.

You know, 3 days isn't too bad. Maybe 1 coffee won't hurt after all. :)

PS Dan Majerle looked super cute in his little pinstripe suit tonight as he called the Suns game. *insert dreamy sigh here*