Halloween in Moderation
Halloween is tomorrow. I started to go into my standard thrifty holiday tips but instead decided this was a good time to talk about the importance of moderation. Moderation is a key element to living a healthy, holistic, and minimalist lifestyle.
Let's touch briefly on the candy. Sugar and fat are not just good for you but essential in moderation. Let's repeat that word "MODERATION". Alcohol has limited medicinal value, but as a beverage for enjoyment, moderation again is key. Costumes and decor are fun, but become tacky and tasteless when taken to excess. When we forget moderation, there is a cost.
First the obvious fincial cost is if you buy more, you spend more. Go on your shopping trips with a clear idea of purpose and clear limit on your expense. This will help you curb impulse spending.
Second is environmental cost. When we get more than we will use, there is waste. It's impossible to know exactly how much party guests will eat or how many trick or treators will ring your door bell...so make a plan for left overs, either pick foods you will eat yourself post-party, or know where you'll take them.
Due to safety concerns, I still think individually wrapped candy is the best option for trick-or-treaters. But for office celebrations and parties with friends, try to steer away from individually wrapped items as they create extra garbage. Consider writing candy makers to encourage the use of compostable packaging. We have the technology. We just need to let companies know such things are important to us.
Three, health costs. Lack of moderation in food leads to obesity. Lack of moderation in drink leads to brain damage, liver damage, social damage, etc. I think there's nothing wrong with taking a break from the normal diet now and then throughout the year at celebration times. However, I think it's healthier to use it to vary the types of food you might normally eat rather than making a habit of eating excessive amounts. For instance if a normal meal for you is a meat and three veggies, but tonight you want a pumpkin pie. Have pie and three veggies, or take half your normal servings on the meat and three, so you're eating a similiar number of calories. Since most candies and desserts are high in carbohydrates, bread is probably the first thing you subsitute out at holiday meals.
One concerning trend I've seen at conventions and other grown up Halloween parties is a tendency to forget your normal standards of modesty. As I said in the video, part of the fun of a costume is doing something different and stepping outside your comfort zone. But in this age of camera phones and facebook, you do need to be aware that your "sexy" costume may outlast the evening. Please keep in mind that not all costumes are appropriate for all situations...some are very much designed for spicing up private moments and not appropriate for wear in public, particularly when children and teens might be present.
We're all glad you're comfortable with your body, but not everyone else attending may be. If your coverage level is not appropriate for work or shopping at the mall, it's probably not appropriate for public events either. No, we should not be quick to judge people by their clothing. However, clothes do send subliminal messages about us. If you wear clothes specifically designed to get sexual attention...then don't be surprised if the attention you get is sexual in nature, and realize you may not attract the specific person or type of person you want with that sexual message.
Employers are increasingly in the habit of searching online for background on prospective employees. So there are some very real financial motivations for protecting how you present yourself to the world.
Reputations are hard to build and easy to ruin. So please in all things, even entertainment. Remember moderation.
Let's touch briefly on the candy. Sugar and fat are not just good for you but essential in moderation. Let's repeat that word "MODERATION". Alcohol has limited medicinal value, but as a beverage for enjoyment, moderation again is key. Costumes and decor are fun, but become tacky and tasteless when taken to excess. When we forget moderation, there is a cost.
First the obvious fincial cost is if you buy more, you spend more. Go on your shopping trips with a clear idea of purpose and clear limit on your expense. This will help you curb impulse spending.
Second is environmental cost. When we get more than we will use, there is waste. It's impossible to know exactly how much party guests will eat or how many trick or treators will ring your door bell...so make a plan for left overs, either pick foods you will eat yourself post-party, or know where you'll take them.
Due to safety concerns, I still think individually wrapped candy is the best option for trick-or-treaters. But for office celebrations and parties with friends, try to steer away from individually wrapped items as they create extra garbage. Consider writing candy makers to encourage the use of compostable packaging. We have the technology. We just need to let companies know such things are important to us.
Three, health costs. Lack of moderation in food leads to obesity. Lack of moderation in drink leads to brain damage, liver damage, social damage, etc. I think there's nothing wrong with taking a break from the normal diet now and then throughout the year at celebration times. However, I think it's healthier to use it to vary the types of food you might normally eat rather than making a habit of eating excessive amounts. For instance if a normal meal for you is a meat and three veggies, but tonight you want a pumpkin pie. Have pie and three veggies, or take half your normal servings on the meat and three, so you're eating a similiar number of calories. Since most candies and desserts are high in carbohydrates, bread is probably the first thing you subsitute out at holiday meals.
One concerning trend I've seen at conventions and other grown up Halloween parties is a tendency to forget your normal standards of modesty. As I said in the video, part of the fun of a costume is doing something different and stepping outside your comfort zone. But in this age of camera phones and facebook, you do need to be aware that your "sexy" costume may outlast the evening. Please keep in mind that not all costumes are appropriate for all situations...some are very much designed for spicing up private moments and not appropriate for wear in public, particularly when children and teens might be present.
We're all glad you're comfortable with your body, but not everyone else attending may be. If your coverage level is not appropriate for work or shopping at the mall, it's probably not appropriate for public events either. No, we should not be quick to judge people by their clothing. However, clothes do send subliminal messages about us. If you wear clothes specifically designed to get sexual attention...then don't be surprised if the attention you get is sexual in nature, and realize you may not attract the specific person or type of person you want with that sexual message.
Employers are increasingly in the habit of searching online for background on prospective employees. So there are some very real financial motivations for protecting how you present yourself to the world.
Reputations are hard to build and easy to ruin. So please in all things, even entertainment. Remember moderation.