It’s not you.  It’s me.

Because, trust me.  You were awesome.

I mean, just look at yourself.  All sweet, and bright, and vibrant.

Really, you light up a room.  You bring the fun.

And we had some great years together.

From Halloween; straight through high school; and then university exams.

You were there for me.

Even when you weren’t helping me manage stress, we hung out together and you went great with a few glasses of crisp white wine to help me unwind at the end of the day.

Remember when I use to pick you up at the Bulk Barn and then sneak you into the movies under my coat?

We saw some great flicks together, didn’t we?  And you were so right about that guy I was dating for a few months back in my undergrad.

I remember when I stopped buying you in individual packs because it was simply more economical to buy the larger ones – remember?

Then there were the times where I just couldn’t decide between Fuzzy Peaches and Cherry Blasters.  So you’d both come over and we’d all hang out for the evening.

I believe at one stage your packages even informed me you were “fat-free” to help me feel better about our relationship.

But I’ll forgive you for that small “giving of scope” to the truth of the whole matter.  Maybe you sensed the start of my ambivalence.

Either way, you are beautiful.

Really.

It’s me.

I know it must have seemed sudden for you.

I figured out last year I no longer have the metabolism of a 24-year-old.

I also remembered that I’m no longer a varsity athlete.

And that I’ve given birth.

Twice.

And so, while you were helping all my clothes fit like a snuggly hug, I knew I was going to have to let something go.

That was over a year – and 30 lbs – ago.

For what it’s worth, it wasn’t just you that I broke up with.  I also quit McDonald’s, fast food generally, bagels and cream cheese and coffee shop muffins.

But you’re the one that still sneaks back into my house once in a while.  Sometimes you’re in a loot bag from a birthday party my daughter attends.  I also noticed you last October in the Halloween haul.  And sometimes you creep back in with someone who doesn’t know that we don’t hang out anymore.

I get it.  We really did have some great times together.

So I wanted you to know that Wine and I talked it over.

And while, even after all this time, we really miss you sometimes, we still think the break up is for the best.

I hope you understand.

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This post is in response to today’s Daily Prompt: Tell us about something you’ve tried to quit. Did you go cold turkey, or for gradual change? Did it stick?