Of Keto and Kindness

My wife, Samantha, embarked on a new journey in March, in which she gave up eating carbs and sugar. That's a startling sentence for many of us. I know what you're thinking. Or maybe I don't. Because it seems many of us are making that leap of late. Me? No way. Huh uh. Give up bread and sweets? I'd rather die.

But that's me. And I'm not you.

Nor am I Samantha, who since beginning this incredible journey, has lost 30 lbs and gained a fantastic new perspective. She's more alert. She has more energy. Many of the daily aches and pains she endured have flown the coop. It's like she's a whole new person. It's been amazing to travel with her on this odyssey.

However.

As previously intimated, I'm not yet ready to take that plunge. I mean, why should I, right? I'm not too overweight yet (give it time). I don't ache anywhere (usually). And, damn it, as much as I hate the act of eating, I love to enjoy the taste of my food. I will gladly forfeit a few years at the end of the line to enjoy a hamburger today.

So this will not be a post prepping to proselytize you to a keto lifestyle (because it is a lifestyle, not a "diet" -- make no mistake). No. Because I'm not there yet, even if millions of you are.

Quite the opposite. I'm here to talk bread, literally and metaphorically. Hang with me a minute, 'kay?

I'm of the educated opinion that 75% of what makes a good sandwich is the bread. Don't skimp. Don't settle. Pay extra at the supermarket. Because, by God, the gluten you use to house your meats, cheeses, and condiments matters.

Skip the store-brand white bread. Skip the name-brand too. I mean, unless that's your jam. But if it is, you're missing out. A nice whole grain goes a long way. A hearty rye can make the meal. And if you're really feeling feisty, try a fresh loaf of pumpernickel. Supreme stuff.

This post could easily go off the rails if I got into the necessity of a quality core, but I'll save that for another day. Let's get into the meat (heh) of what I'm really trying to say here.

If we can all agree that the wrapping you use to bind your sandwich matters, then so do so many larger issues. Take your pick. Or rather, I'll choose one. Mostly at random. But not really.

Let's go with kindness. I keep seeing memes crop up on social media about how being kind costs nothing. That's true, but kindness runs deeper than that. Kindness pays dividends. And it can be contagious. I've stood in lines at a coffee shop where someone pays for the beverage of the person behind them and dammit if it didn't run all the way to the back to the door.

I won't go into how damaging cruelty is. Not here. I'll save that for a different day. Today is all about kindness and how it can enrich us, each and every one.

Growing up, I watched a lot of public broadcasting. Sesame Street, The Electric Company, 3-2-1 Contact. All great shows. My favorite, though, hands down, was Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. I recall watching, jaw agape, as our host stepped onto set and did nothing but act kind for the duration.

At first I thought it must be an act. The kids at school, the ones who spat bad words and laughed as they pushed me down, could have stood a healthy dose of Mr. Roger's medicine. I wondered if their parents cared enough to even introduce them to the Neighborhood.



Check out the trailer for Won't You Be My Neighbor and don't tear up. I dare you.



Over time, though, I realized the stuff Fred Rogers pedaled was genuine--the real deal. Here was a man who was actually kind. Not just acting kind for his TV audience. The man truly wanted to help people, not harm them.

But this is nothing new. We've all heard this quote: Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them. 

What a concept, right? It's not hard to enact. In fact, according to this, you literally have to do nothing. But it takes real effort to be cruel. Cruelty is not a crime of passion; it takes premeditation. It takes a determined mind to wake up every day and act ugly.

You know what doesn't take determination? Changing. If you're tired of wearing the bully mask, you can stop anytime. Just don't put it on. Go out into the world and espouse happiness. Those you interact with will return your glee tenfold. Try it. You'll see. It takes no effort whatsoever.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is: Kindness is the bread in which we should wrap our lives. (Is that a little ham-fisted? Sure, but I couldn't help myself.)

But, dude, aren't you equating bread and kindness and people who've cut bread out of their lives must also cut out kindness? Not at all. I've tried some keto bread and damn if it's not as delicious as full-gluten. Okay, you know what? Don't mess with my metaphor. I know it's as wobbly as a newborn calf, but let me have it, will ya?! JUST LET THE MESSAGE FLOW THROUGH YOU.

Because you know what takes real effort? Converting to a keto lifestyle, like Samantha and so many others have. That is true, hard, sometimes painful change. If they can change, so can you. You simply need to want it.