Last week we were at Costco and I came face to face with something I swore I would not buy again: a scale. Silly, I know, but I’ve had the same scale for many, many years and while it has not been accurate for some time, I’m comfortable with it. I know its quirks. I know how many pounds it’s off so when it doesn’t return to zero, I don’t freak out. But there it was, a beautiful, digital scale made by Weight Watchers. And it was only $14.99! My husband was the one who pointed it out and suggested we finally do away with our old model Krups. So, I bit the bullet and agreed.
The new scale sat in its box for a few days before I unpacked it and set it up in the bathroom. It sat on the floor for a few more days before I got on it. Yes, I survived that first weigh-in. I actually felt some relief knowing the number I saw was accurate. I didn’t have to bend down to see it, either as the numbers light up. And while the old scale had long ago lost one of its feet on the bottom and was rather wobbly, this one sits perfectly level on the floor.
Why the drama around a new bathroom scale? I’ve been thinking a lot about this. As I’ve gotten older and my body has changed through the years, I have relied on my scale to keep me on track. It’s seen me through pregnancies, post-pregnancy, ups and downs, and menopause. That scale knows my secrets, my insecurities and it’s been there for all the struggles with my body image. It’s like a silent, aging, unbalanced friend. A friend I should no longer be spending time with. A friend who takes up too much time to be helpful.
So, as I say farewell to my old bathroom friend, I am happily looking forward to my new relationship and all that entails. I feel liberated from the dysfunction of the old scale. I am optimistic this new one will be more useful, more accurate and together we will be productive.
Do you have a relationship with a favorite appliance or other inanimate object? Tell me your story about it in the comments below.
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