While Scarlett may have said, “Afterall, tomorrow is another day”, I have to be careful that tomorrow does actually come. I can’t keep putting off making healthy changes until tomorrow. Tomorrow, I’ll go for a walk instead of laying on the couch watching reruns of Swamp People. Tomorrow, I’ll forego sipping on Starbuck’s caloric equivalent of a hot fudge sundae. Tomorrow, I’ll rid the fridge of Yoohoo’s and Captain Crunch and restock with skim milk and turkey bacon. Tomorrow.

I have lost almost 60 pounds in the last year but most recently my weight loss has come to a screeching halt. I have begun falling back into my old habits. I used to avoid bread on the table at restaurants at all costs. Now, I might have a roll. (Translation of might: I’ll stab your wrist with the fork if you try to take mine.) I didn’t keep microwave popcorn in the house. Now, I’ll buy some bags under the pretense of “just in case the kids” want some and then eat it myself. I used to not skip a day without some type of physical activity. I’m not talking full on high intensity cardio, just moving. A swim, hitting some golf balls at the driving range, or a simple leisurely stroll with my sweetheart. Now, I’m full of excuses. I’m tired, I don’t have time, it’s the weekend.

I am living in the land of tomorrow. Tomorrow, I’ll go back to my eating habits that helped me shed those sixty pounds. Tomorrow, I’ll make a conscious effort to log all the food that enters my mouth on that fitness app I downloaded to my iPhone. Tomorrow, I’ll throw those Oreos out so I won’t be tempted by the crunchy, creamy chocolate disks. Tomorrow.

What I need is someone to straighten me up. When a Southern mother tells her children to straighten up, it means the behavior you are currently exhibiting needs to come to an immediate stop. Numerous times in my childhood, my Moma squeezed my knee under the table at some fancy restaurant and whispered sternly in my ear, “Straighten up.” One time, she told my little sister Joanna to “straighten up” and Joanna did just that, jumped up from the table, marched to the middle of the steakhouse, stood as tall as she possibly could at six years old and saluted my Moma right then and there in front of God and everyone. Melinda and I couldn’t quit laughing so Moma told us to “stifle yourselves” which is basically like saying straighten up and shut up simultaneously. Sometimes, Moma didn’t need words to say “straighten up” just arched eyebrows and a look that meant you had two seconds to get it together or else it would be on.

So if tomorrow never comes like Garth Brooks sang, then what? I don’t know. I’m not going to find out. I’m going to look at myself in the mirror, raise my eyebrows like Moma when she means business and nip this tomorrow business in the bud. TODAY.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

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