I watch with horror what can happen to a city in Oklahoma in mere minutes. You’re going about your business and Mother Nature flicks her tiny finger and everything you know is literally up-ended, destroyed, wiped out, gone.

I understand that one could argue that governor Christie has brought his weight upon himself by lifestyle choices. That belies the greater question, “Even if someone makes improper health choices, why are so many so comfortable with teasing others about what they weigh or eat?”

I have a handle on the fact you just don’t launch willy-nilly hither and yon down the boulevard into something as pressing, essential, and life-altering as a thing like this can be. You better be primed, that’s what I have to say.

Trying to be perfect is not only an obstacle to being better, in many ways, it’s an excuse to avoid the work it takes to improve.

It’s sad — and yes, it’s embarrassing. Yet, how much living do we avoid because of what “they” might say or think? We each have issues; none of us is perfect, and yet we compare ourselves to that non-existent model.

When we analyze our histories, the reality is that too often, we opt for the smoother, shorter, easier pathway guaranteed to lead in the end to a sense of defeat and unhappiness.

As much a part of the human condition as falling in love, habits, like our favorite aunt, exist only to smother us in comfort, giving us reprieve and safe haven from worry and concern.

Recently, I had to strap duct tape around my noggin to prevent it from exploding when I heard an ad about a diet discovery you mix with water and drop 10 pounds in a week with the added benefits of hunger pains and dizziness because your calories come from sugar.

I was worried our desire for a few nights without responsibilities didn’t seem like a reason for the judge to grind even slower the wheels of justice. I considered making something up, but could I get busted for perjury?

When this young girl is grown, her memories would not be mine, an ashamed, self-conscious, overweight teen. Rather, she’d fondly recollect swaying and laughing with her family to a loud Latin beat.

I find it fascinating that that we choose “favorites.” We have our favorite items of clothing, favorite TV shows; for glory sakes, we even have our favorite chair and outfit when we settle in to watch those shows. We’re creatures of habit.

I’m always interested in what triggers us to finally take action. We fight it for years until we cross a line that drives us from needing to do something to actually doing it.

It’s difficult until it isn’t. Five words; seven if you don’t count contractions. But, consider the message in that unvarnished declaration.