Day Four: Taking Time to Learn

Patience is not a virtue that I can lay claim to.  It would be all too easy for me to find excuses to wait by the phone for Dr. E's office to call with a date for my surgery.  Waiting makes me grouchy.  I need to fill my time with something-- so I have been watching video clips from the St. Vincent website- www.mybrandnewlife.org

Yesterday, the most interesting one was a clip teaching about the importance of planning for any situation.  The woman showed an example of an emergency lunch kit that she keeps in her car for emergencies.  For example, she often has to attend business lunches that offer no choices that are appropriate for her.  Not a problem!  She can pull out a few things from her kit.  

Her kit is filled with appropriate non-perishable items:

• Pull-top can of tuna (I know that there are even easier and tastier versions of this available now- Little pouches of lemon-pepper, terriyaki, sweet and sour or ranch flavored tuna!)
• Rice thins- offer a crunchy addition.  These are available from the bariatric store.
• Chicken flavored "unjury"- a protein power to mix with warm water on cold days.
• Protein bar- to eat while your co-workers enjoy a dessert that would not be good for the post-surgery patient.
• Organic, unsalted, raw almonds- limiting nuts is a good idea, but 8 or so is a good amount.

I think this is a really great idea, and I plan to put an emergency stash at the church for those mornings when the Elders' Breakfast has donuts or the funeral meal offers nothing that is appropriate for me to eat.  By preparing ahead, I can avoid temptations.