My chimp

So desperate for chocolate I found this at the back of the fridge! He was good!

So I would like to introduce my chimp. Those of you who know me well have met him several times - for this I feel I should apologise. My sister lent me a book 'The Chimp Paradox'. The psychology is that we have three brains - the chimp, the human and the computer! Now this is a big book so I'll do my hardest to abridge to a very short, but literate, paragraph. So the chimp thinks independently to the human, it's reactive and emotional, has its own agenda and rarely agrees with the human. The worst thing is that it thinks and takes action 5 times faster than the human! I'm sure you all recognise this to some degree? Those days when you know you should go for that run because it's good for you and you'll feel great after it, but it's raining and cold and you really want to stay in bed? A recent example of mine is when 3 loyal friends removed themselves from the blog what's app group. My chimp was immediately distressed because they don't like me any more, they hate my blog, they think it's not worthwhile! But my human (a few seconds later) realised that it might just mean they are so dedicated to my blog they don't need the weekly reminder. Or even if they did decide not to read it anymore then that's ok as it's not for everyone - and they have been reading it for 4 years now!

Anyway the book it about managing your chimp (you can't remove him) and stop him from sabotaging your goals, dreams, day to day living! It's the chimp telling me to eat chocolate even if my human is full, and trying to lose weight!

So I've lost 1lb. Meals are being controlled but I'm still struggling with the sugar. I'm carrying on with Davina's workouts, HIIT and yoga sessions. And doing strange lockdown things like cleaning the fridge and throwing mouldy cranberry sauce out! And, of course, I've written a Covid-19 poem! Enjoy xxx

This plague wraps round the world complete.

A passage in history we won't delete.

Officials say to stay at home

For some this means weeks all alone.

Every day we devour the news

We need to know if we win or lose

So many now have lost their life

A child, a father or someone's wife.

For those ignoring the warning call

Putting all at risk, and more will fall.

This virus takes with no regard

Your sex, your age, an inch, a yard.

So open your door and breathe the air

Let the wind blow through your hair.

Dance and sing and eat some cake

Strawberries, ice-cream with chocolate flake.

Squats, lunges and the yoga pose

Feel the grass between your toes

Rejoice the sun, the wind and rain

Our strength of heart will never wane.

The life we had we took for granted

Losing sight of things that mattered.

When this is over, and it will end

Embrace your family, your neighbour, your friend.

By Gilly Wilson

5 April 2020

If it doesn't challenge you it won't change you.