Page 22 - Holly Carney Issue (3)

Slightly Delusional

By Donna Hulme

A positive attitude is a good thing. From the time we are alize it. I like sports as well as the next person, but it is not
little- with “The Little Engine That Could” - to the time we the end-all and do-all of my life. I silently thought, “Slightly
are adults and read Dr. Norman Vincent Peale’s “The Power delusional, but let them have their fun”.
of Positive Thinking,” we are educated in focusing on our
goals, and taking the necessary steps to achieve those As a mother, I will be the first to admit that I am delusional
goals. Yes, thinking we can accomplish something is a ma- where my children are concerned- what mother isn’t?
jor step to success. Doesn’t every mother on the planet, when she first holds
that little bundle of joy in her arms, think her baby is the
However, there seems to be an explosion of varying degrees cutest, the brightest, has the best sense of humor, and is

of positive thinking theories lately. Not that this is a bad the kindest? The list goes on and on. And well it should,
as mothers we en-
courage our children,
teach them how to
overcome obstacles
and adversity, and
give them a good pep
talk when they need
it. However, calling an
apple an orange, and
believing the apple
has therefore become
an orange is flat out
delusional.
An acquaintance
22 recently told me that
chocolate does not
make a person fat.
The person is fat
because she does not
envision herself as
thin. I’m quite sure if
I envision myself with
a Kate Moss figure
while I am eating
chocolate, the fat will
still find a place to
cling to on my body. If
thing; I know I certainly like a vast array of options. Some not, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, The Zone, South Beach,
of the theories are getting a little out there. By out there I and any other weight loss regimen would be all over this
mean close to condoning delusional thinking. idea of thinking fat off. I wish it were true. Just think of all
the fantastic clothes at Bloomies that would look terrific on a
I was at a party and all of us were watching a sports game bony frame.
on TV. We were all rooting for the same team, with the rah’s
and yea’s after each successful play. In our group were a Alas, my positively delusional skills must be below par.
couple of people who had just returned from a motivational I still gain weight if I eat chocolate. Apples are still apples
seminar. At the beginning of the game they kept saying (although I much prefer oranges). My favorite sports teams
things like, “We are so going to win, because I can visual- still lose on occasion and there is still suffering and con-
ize it”. All well and good, I thought, they know the team has flict in this world. On the other hand, life is good; we can
great coaching, has practiced and works well together, and buy almost any fresh fruit we want; we are told daily walks
have the experience and desire to win. After a short time, it are about the best exercise there is, and some dear sweet
was evident our team was either out-skilled, or was having lady invented Spanx! Woo-hoo! Look out Bloomies, here I
an off day. Still the motivated ones were in denial, and kept come!
expounding that our team would win, we just needed to visu-
July/August 2008