The Curse of the Candy

I was going to wait until much closer to the end of the month to buy Halloween candy.

The problem is that our family got "Boo-ed" early in the month. This is a game played in our neighborhood where you place a goody bag on someone's doorstep, along with a bright orange paper that says "Boo!" on it, which you tape to the front door. According to the attached poem, once you've been tagged, you must Boo! two more neighbors within the next 24 hours.

So I had to go out and get the candy. Even if I wanted to break the chain, my kids knew it was our turn, and they were into it. Now, you may be thinking, why doesn't she buy some candy that she doesn't really like? Danger averted!

Don’t get logical on me. Of course, I had to buy "good" candy. I need to pass out the first-rate stuff on Halloween night; we all know each other here in town.

We completed our "Boo-ing" earlier this week, so the candy sampler bag is open for business (two different kinds of sampler bags, actually). My house is a minefield of temptation. When I'm here, the little candies beckon me for an afternoon pick-me-up, or small dessert after dinner, or just to say, "Hi, eat me," as I'm walking by the dining room where they are.

Well, that behavior is going to stop today. I'm announcing it here and now. A writer can't write well with a sugar-addled brain. That's how I'm tying this in to be relevant to you. Writers must eat well and stay hydrated to produce clear copy!

No more candy for me during this Halloween season. Let the kids have their fun, I've got skinny jeans to fit into and articles to write. Wish me luck!

--MP

Liquid Clarity

You've heard this before: Drink more water. I know, boooring. But after trying a little water drinking experiment, you may find that it actually helps with your writing!

I stumbled upon this benefit by accident. One of the books on my nightstand is Julia Cameron's The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size. A chapter called "H2O" inspired me to drink up.

First, there's the supposed weight loss benefit. Even if you're eating right and exercising enough, water consumption can be the missing link to success. Cameron claims that a successful diet is one-third diet, one-third exercise and one-third water intake. She quotes nutritionist Sara Ryba, who says, "If you are stuck and the scale won't budge, try upping your water." Ryba has often seen water "melt" away the final stubborn pounds a client is striving to lose. Sounds good to me.

She also writes about water washing out waste materials and toxins from our bodies. "Within in few days of high water consumption, our skin tone improves. We also seem to 'wash away' any lingering bloat from our sugar consumption." Well, that's something I could definitely use, especially with my sweet tooth, and who doesn't want a nice skin tone?

Finally, the clincher, for me. Cameron writes about a hairdresser who claims he can always tell when his clients are on a water regimen. "It shows on the skin, and a sparkle in the eye," he says. "They look like they've had some work done, but it’s simply water that's rejuvenating them." Oh vanity, you got me.

So I've started to drink a bottle of water first thing in the morning, before teeth brushing. I take a tall commuter mug of water in the car with me on errands. I drink water with lunch and dinner, keep a glass with me at my desk, and play games with myself to finish a glass at certain intervals throughout the day. Aside of the near constant bathroom breaks, it's going well.

The surprise has been how clear-headed I am. I feel awake and alert when I drink a lot of water. A sharp mind certainly can't hurt when your goal is to write well. Writers, you may want to give increased water drinking a try.

--MP