Living on fish and chicken with my fruits and veggies (okay, AND jelly beans,) I almost never think about having red meat. As a runner in my early parenthood, I eschewed red meat like the plague, didn’t serve it or eat it. Was told it would clog my arteries, lead to dementia, you name it…red meat was responsible for it. And I wouldn’t give my daughters the impression it was healthy. Then when I had my first bowel resections, and needed to “build myself up” with iron, red meat was recommended, but my first steak caused a bowel blockage. My bowels had probably not healed at the time, but I wasn’t willing to take a chance. So, NO to red meat! Over the years, I have little interest in meat, was not going to succumb to all the evils of a burger!

As I have learned to better chew my food to avoid blockages (as much as possible,) I have agreed to a meatball from time to time. And believe me, they are delicious. And so, I was ready to reach out and try, once again, to indulge in meat. No doubt, this was reinforced by the fun evenings where we live called “Burgers and Brew.” Each time we have dined, I have ordered a chicken breast or turkey burger. But recently, I read that the hamburger meat is truly prime, little fat and delicious. Last night, I left my comfort zone and went for it!

How many ways can I spell FANTASTIC??? Succulent, tasty, filling and fun, trimmed with lettuce, tomato, special sauce, Dijon mustard, and a few slices of pickle, I was in my glory. Best of all, I felt like “one of the crowd.” I so often am concerned about the effect of food on my intestines, that the worry causes problems. It was wonderful to know I could digest the burger and look forward to another down the road.

My takeaway (and believe me when I say with all the issues we are facing in the world, I KNOW this is clearly not very meaningful) is that sometimes it is okay to try new things. It is okay to step out of the routine, and it is okay to put beliefs and perceptions in the past. That is part of growing, maturing, evolving, and accepting that what we thought was written in stone, just may not be. As I write this, I am pondering what other precepts might be under consideration for change? I suppose being open to seeing a different point of view may very well be a good thing.

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