I believe Coca-Cola is God’s elixir. I like to pull back the metal tab on a Coca-Cola can and pour it in my glass filled with crushed, not cubed ice. I hear the sounds of fizz-fizz as I put my lips on the glass, waiting for the first drops of sweetness (no doubt from the high fructose corn syrup) to touch my tongue. If you can’t tell, I am a little obssessive about my Coca-Cola.
The sounds of addiction came in the form of a statement from my daughter one day when she said, “Momma, you always drink Coke. You never drink water.” My daughter was right. I have never been an aqua fan, even though it is the most natural and healthiest way to quench thirst. If there is a choice between any drink and a Coca-Cola, you guessed it, I go for the soda. The problem is that soda is so very bad for you. It contributes to extra pounds, colors your teeth, and is expensive. There is also that widely known fact that Coca-Cola can be used to take off the rust from nails. In the news recently, a Chinese study delineates the link between the consumption of soda to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
This past month, I decided to conduct an experiment, choosing to go soda free for at least one month. To be honest, my decision to quit soda hinged on the example I was setting for my daughter. She is an observer, watching everything I do and ultimately wanting to copy my behavior. When we dined at restaurants, I would order Coca-Cola for myself and a water for my daughter. However, she always asked for a sip of my drink and not wanting to witness melt down in the middle of the restaurant, I relented and let her sip some of my soda.
The experiment to drop soda started as an exercise to make an impression on my daughter, but it has lead to other realizations about myself. I realized I still can, if I want to, muster enough will power to change a behavior. I’ve learned that discipline can boomerang back into your life if you get motivated enough to embrace change. If I focus on changing one habit at a time, I believe that I will have more success.
I still take my drink on ice. My daughter and I say Cheers! as we clank our crushed ice water glasses together.
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Have you tried to break a habit? What was your experience? Any advice? Do your children’s observations sometimes cause you to make a real change in a particular behavior?
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
Man, now I want a coke! 😉
Breaking habits is indeed an exercise in discipline. I recently gave up having a snack when my kids go down for nap. I never needed that snack, it was just something I did. I don’t even know how or why the habit got started! It was adding a lot of excess calories and seemed very sneaky, as well. I always felt like I was hiding, by waiting until nap time.
It was hard at first, but now I feel so free, not “needing” that snack.
I am not a big Coke drinker, but my mother is addicted, for sure. I think you don’t realize it, but it’s the caffeine you’re addicted to. I drink water all day and then at night, wine.
And have I denied myself something, tried to break a bad habit? I don’t know if I have. If I try to stop doing something, I only want it more. So I’m all about moderation being my middle name. I did the Atkins diet for two weeks–two weeks, seriously!–and I longed for Cheetos for years. And I didn’t even like them.
Giving things up is tough. I gave up chocolate (divinity, pure and simple) for nearly a year. I was and am deeply proud of my discipline, but I try to take a less black and white approach now. With most things. Because giving up what you love is sad too. (Though soda doesn’t have the benefits of antioxidants that chocolate does.)
Congratulations, Rudri! Habits can be broken, but never forgotten. I think you gotta keep reminding yourself that you are setting an example for your daughter to keep yourself on track.
Little known fact: I used to be a smoker and I loved every one of those filthy cigarettes! I sort of quit when my husband (then fiance) moved to the same city as me, but I quit sneaking them on the sly when I got pregnant. I haven’t gone back since.
My other truth: I only stay away from smoking because its bad for me, bad enough to kill me. If I ever get some horrible diagnosis and see the end coming soon, the first thing I’ll do is buy myself a fresh pack. Gads I miss them.
Oh, Rudri, I am drooling. Drooling. I gave up soda for the month of January, too, and am counting the minutes until February (47 to go). I did manage to give it up but longingly pined for it every day. You are strong, friend!
Oh yes! I broke away from Pepsi–and all soda–in my Freshman year in high school. Since then, I can only sip soda and usually give the rest to my husband (who is an addict).
My current habit that I am trying to break is napping. This might sound strange or silly, but napping has practically undone me! Therefore, I am attempting to replace naptime with certain chores that have been neglected. Starting tomorrow.
I hope you still enjoy it now and then! My habits are TV and computer. The computer I can’t do much about b/c I work on it…but TV I could definitely lessen.
I had a Pepsi obsession…It was unbelievably hard to drop it and go for water, and I still splurge on occasion! I was a Coke fan way back when and switched when they pulled that classic fiasco on us!
Very inspiring. I have tried to break habits before and have been pleasantly surprised at how (relatively) easy it was after a few hard days. When pregnant with Toddler, I gave up all caffeine. After a few rotten days, I felt great and didn’t look back. This pregnancy? I have coffee, but in quasi-limited quantities. Poor baby #3 🙂
I used to be addicted to Coke but once I got pregnant the doctor told me I needed to back off. And I did, shockingly enough. And I never picked it up again. Not even a sip! I never thought I could say that. But it’s true that after 2 weeks of eliminating something you really don’t crave it at all!
Most of these habits are exactly that.
you are so used to having something or doing something a certain way you
feel like if you dont your experience isn’t complete but when we change that habit we realise that that’s not the case at all.
Will power and the rest is easy.
Personally i like the occasional coke, but only occasionally
Very inspiring, Rudri. Like you, my son has been the catalyst for some habits I’ve broken: cursing, drinking coffee, sleeping in.
As for Coke, I love the taste and got hooked on it on my very first visit to Mexico (bottled, they seem to have a much better formular there). Now, I can’t even drink bubbly water as I find the carbonation too strong. Chanpagne, somehow, I don’t know how, is an exception.
That’s a very healthy change you brought about in your life ! Coke certainly has all in it enough to damage the body , thanks to your daughter 🙂 Well coming to the question you asked I would say I do have a lot many bad habits but honestly I have never given a try in breaking through those habits. Your post has inspired me !
Work On Your Impulse
How do you judge your actions?
http://www.3smartcubes.com/pages/tests/impulsive_nature/impulsive_nature_instructions.asp
What a great reminder that we really can change habits we take for granted – things that would set better examples for our kids, and be healthier for us. (I do try to change habits – sometimes I succeed; I usually succeed more easily when I don’t freak out if I slip now and again… chocolate, for example. ;))
Good for you for leading my example! Now I need to follow your example. I too love Coca-Cola and call it the sweet nectar of life. When I say, “I need a drink” my kids know that I mean I want a Coke. But it should only be a treat and not a regular item in my diet. I wonder if I can drop the habit too?