Friday nights, carrot cake & calling myself out

Let me tell you how I went from “well behaved” on a Friday night… to smashing carrot cake (with that sweet cream cheese frosting, oh yes) three Fridays in a row.

WOAH! Yes 🤣 guilty! But you know what? I let that guilt go. I rebuked it. Because come Friday, that sucker wasn’t going to win again. 🤣

Here’s what happened…

Every Friday, I stop at the local farm deli for my usual dinner/snacks before chilling with my horses. It’s become my Friday evening ritual to unwind with good food and horse cuddles.

But one Friday, I get to the deli… and my staples are SOLD OUT. There I stood, hungry, staring down that carrot cake. And just like that, I decided: I deserve it. No jokes. It was only going to be that one time.

LOL. Well… it turned into three weeks in a row. Until I caught myself.

This is exactly how fast our brains create habits. One unplanned moment turns into a pattern before we even realize it. Our brains love to find shortcuts, and food, especially comforting nostalgic food, is an easy way to reward ourselves.

Thankfully I caught it before it wedged itself in too deep, and I reminded myself: I can still enjoy my Friday nights without defaulting to the carrot cake every single time. I just need to be better prepared.

So, if you’re feeling stuck in a loop right now, breathe. Step back. Get curious. Be kind to yourself. You’re human! It’s about noticing the pattern with compassion, interrupting it before it becomes automatic, and choosing again.

Here’s to more mindful (and still delicious) Fridays,