Pepperoni

I have been thrown a lifeline in the guise of a podcast - namely Jon Richardson and the Futurenauts, where each week Jon is joined by futurists Ed Gillespie and Mark Stevenson to discuss a particular topic and, in their words, determined "how f***ed we are, why we are f***ed and how do we unf*** ourselves".  I am only a few episodes in but already feel so much better for knowing that there are some very learned people out there thinking about this, that work is being done to try to combat the mess we are making of our planet and lives, and there are small practicable things that I can do that can make a difference.

I should however point out that I have, so far, selected the episodes I've listened to with care, opting for Food and Fashion (where I think I have already started making better, more informed choices) and am leaving the episode on Energy to a week when I am better able to face the inevitability of having to change energy supplier.  But with each episode I am learning and gaining a better understanding of the problems we face, whilst enjoying the flow of their conversation and witty banter.  And, I have picked up a new term - flexitarian.

Whilst JR was talking about occasionally breaking with his beliefs to eat a cheese sandwich left by his daughter rather than waste the sandwich in preference of buying a vegan alternative, either Ed or Mark (I can't yet remember whose voice belongs to whom) volunteered the word 'flexitarian' and attributed it's meaning "to do the right thing nearly all the time, but you don't feel guilty about it when you don't", to one of his friends.

On googling, I discover that this is a well established term for someone who occasionally deviates from a vegetarian diet, and describes my eating habits in a much more succinct way than saying "Well, I'm a vegetarian but I don't really want to give myself the label of being so, because occasionally I might eat fish or steal a piece of my son's pepperoni pizza..."

But in truth I preferred it when I thought that, as a word, it wasn't solely connected with food and was just describing a way of being that I could see myself buying into, because in giving me an occasional get out clause, it simultaneously gives me the impetus to try.  

I don't have to be faultless or get it right 100% of the time, and in all likelihood there are going to be trade-offs along the way that will negate that possibility.  To someone who is often paralysed by the need for perfectionism this is like being thrown a lifeline and a rubber ring!  

Furthermore it brings with it a spark of spontaneity, a feeling so rarely felt during lockdown.  Which is why there was no blog last Friday, not because I couldn't be bothered, not because there wasn't time, but because when Mr L didn't finish working on the computer until 6pm, rather than get up to type up and publish my musings for the week I made the impromptu decision to stay sitting on the sofa in front of the fire and enjoy our Friday evening together - guilt free - safe in the knowledge that for whilst I try my best to blog once a week and publish on a Friday, sometimes it just doesn't happen.