We are all addicted to something
It's really easy to look at an obese person and see right away a person with no discipline and no self control. How about a drunk who staggers though town after hitting the bars every weekend? But how many of us are walking around with secret addictions that are not so easily seen? We know what they are. While we point the fingers at those whose addictions are plain to see, we make excuses for ourselves thinking we're ok because nobody knows or needs to know what we struggle with.
It may not be a physical addiction. It may be an emotional or spiritual one. Is being a habitual liar or nagger an addiction? How about a habitual screamer or complainer? Do we make excuses for them like one makes for their alcohol comsumption?
Think about this. We are all addicted to something. It may not be food, but we all struggle with something that has a hold on us. I've seen woman especially be addicted to spending money. When they feel blue they go out shopping, and I've actually seen dark moods vanish instantly after a purchase was made. It's like a drug literally taking their blues away.
Sometimes those addictions can even be deemed healthy for us. Like running. Because I'm a coach and runner and the mother of three runners I've seen running addictions close up and personal. It can and does get ridiculous sometimes and can also, if not properly controlled, be dangerous.
I remember a pregnant friend of mine ran all nine months of her pregnancy including a race on the day she gave birth. After delivery of only a few hours she snuck out of the hospital for a run. The nurses were furious. She could have bled to death out there. Now that's an addiction.
I remember my husband when we first married and his love for running. He was running about 100 miles per week. His running streak was endless it seemed even to the point he had to run after the delivery of our first son. Granted he only did about 2-3 miles but he went out dogged tired nevertheless. He dared not take a day off. Addicted.
Granted, I do believe some addictions are not as bad as others. Drug and alcohol addictions, for instance, don't compare to exercise or other healthstyle addictions. The risk factors are much greater for some addictions than others. I see much more potential for harm in taking drugs than I do running or eating homemade edible weeds grown in the window for instance.
So before we do any finger poiinting we must point to ourselves, and we must ask.......what are you addicted to?