“In a world full of trends, I want to remain a classic!” 

I was out to dinner, enjoying my food, drinking wine and laughing when all of the sudden, I wanted to scream, “Who ordered the farts!” I immediately knew it wasn’t actually flatulence I was smelling, but rather it was the trendy appetizer I saw on the menu when I was ordering [that seems to be on every menu these days] Brussels Sprouts.

I think I might be one of six people on earth that is not a fan of Brussels Sprouts. I have tried them every which way:

• Orange glazed Brussels
• Pan roasted with bacon Brussels
• Brussels Sprouts Gratin
• Smokey, lemony sautéed Brussels
• “There’s uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo”…whoops, got carried away. *Forrest Gump

No matter how many times someone says, “You will love the way I make them”, I want to throw up a little in my mouth before I even put the fork close to my lips because the smell to me is so putrid.

I remember hearing a comedy skit by Jim Gaffagan where he is talking about kale, and it’s pretty much how I feel about Brussel Sprouts.

“Can we stop with the kale propaganda? That stuff tastes like bug spray. I was looking at a can of bug spray and it said, ‘made with real kale’.”

I love bananas, beets, apples, lean proteins, whole grains and even kale. I love eating healthy and how wonderful it makes my body feel [don’t get me wrong, I love me some pizza too], but I draw the line at a food that fills the room with a rancid stank that makes you wonder if the waitress farted as she walked past you. However, those little green “baby cabbages” are amazing for you!

Let’s look at the nutritional and health benefit of Brussels Sprouts:

• Fight inflammation
• Lower cholesterol
• Provides digestive support
• Support immune function
• Good source of folic acid
• Rich in antioxidants
• High in vitamin C and vitamin K

In addition to their nutritional value, they are also rich in hydrogen sulfate gases and when these gases escape due to exposure to heat, they produce a smell that smells like something you should only smell AFTER eating them.

I really really really have WANTED to love Brussels Sprouts. There is even an article I read online, “Brussels Sprouts for people who think they hate Brussels Sprouts”. Why oh WHY am I so hell bent on continuing to try and find a way to like these little green balls of cuteness? It’s because it seems as though everyone but me loves them, and I don’t want to be the person out to dinner with friends that says, “Oh, any appetizer is fine except the Brussels Sprouts.”

After looking a little closer at my desire to embrace love Brussels Sprouts, I realized I have done this a lot in my life; and many of us do it. Following a trend is pack mentality, it’s a survival instinct because we fear rejection. We want to fit in.

Let’s face it, trends are a part of our world:

• Fashion trends: Tight rolled jeans and MC Hammer pants in the 90’s (Yes I did)
• Diet trends: Slim Fast, Paleo, Whole30 (Yep, I’ve tried them)
• Exercise trends: Tae Bo, Spin, Orange Theory Fitness (Yep, Yep, Yep)
• Food trend: Brussels Sprouts (HACK)
• Making money quick trends: Passive income (Trying it)
• Trendy phrases: Gag me with a spoon, You Do You (I’ve said both)

You can’t escape the magazines, social media or TV trends telling us ways to be richer, slimmer, fitter, happier, nicer, and that we need to love Brussels Sprouts. We try to fit in from the time we are kids. I find it exhausting and I’m just too tired to do it anymore.

Can we just stop already? Part of self-care is loving yourself and not feeling the need to have to “fit in” or change yourself for anyone but yourself. You should never have to apologize for stepping away from the trends and being who you are. (Caveat: As long as you are doing your best to be a kind person. Yes, you should apologize if you are being an asshole). 

You are going to lose yourself if you are constantly trying to “fit in” and please everyone else first

before yourself…

When you are working on your own personal growth and self-care, if your main concern is, “What will people think if I do that”, “I should try yoga that seems to be the “in thing” right now”, then STOP IT! As long as you aren’t purposely hurting people with your actions and choices, then be confident in them. You are going to lose yourself (or mold into someone that is not authentic) if you are constantly trying to “fit in” and please everyone else first before yourself.

If there is a trend you want to follow, follow it because YOU genuinely want to give it a go and feel good about it and don’t feel pressured into trying it. Better yet, why not start your own trend…even if you are the only one that follows it!

If you have pieces of yourself that you want to improve upon, enhance, expand and develop…do it for you; not because someone else or a societal trend is saying [this] is going to “fix” you or “make you a better person”.

This is your life recipe, no one else’s.

Personally, I will continue to be kind to myself by continuing to pass on the Brussels Sprouts and ordering the side salad instead. “In a world full of trends, I want to remain a classic!” Be kind and be you!

Remember, You Got This.

XOXO~

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