Not too long ago, my friend asked a group of us what our vices were and how we justified them.
I responded that my vices were: smoking, drinking and cursing...like a sailor. (like a boss sailor!!)
I didn't justify them. I didn't think that I needed to.
The smoking thing, well, it is a vice that I am constantly try to give up. I'm off the wagon for now, but I'll jump back on it as soon as I can get my husband on board.
The drinking? I don't really see it as a vice, when I think about it. I'm not an alcoholic. I drink in moderation, mostly wine - which as we all know, can be good for the heart (I mostly drink red wine).
The cursing?
Well, whether or not that is a vice varies by personal opinion.
As often happens, I started thinking about the subject and the answers people were giving. Some commented that their vice is their iPhone, wine, reality television, chocolate, etc. See where I'm going with this?
I don't think that there is anything actually wrong with any of those things!
By far, my smoking is the worst because not only is it bad for my health, but if I die of cancer, it will negatively impact the people I love as well.
So I looked up the definition of VICE in the dictionary. Or rather, I looked it up on dictionary.com.
The first definition for vice was "an immoral or evil habit or practice" - um, yeah, none of these things are immoral or evil!
Definitions two through four were relating to depravity, sexual immorality, immoral conduct, etc. All pretty deep, and not at all even remotely appropriate for someone who plays too much with their iPhone!
The fifth definition was "a fault, defect, or shortcoming." Again, I don't really feel that those words are appropriate for watching reality television or eating too much chocolate!
Seriously, I think people are too hard on themselves.
Life is short. Live it. Play with your iPhone, drink a martini, eat an entire sleeve of Thin Mints every now and then.
Unless you are doing something hurtful to yourself or others, don't sweat it!
Can I get an "amen?"
Crystal
My vices are diet coke and chocolate. I figure I'm going to die anyway, so why not 😉
nicole
Amen! I agree with you. Hope you can eventually give up the death sticks though...but shit, it could be way worse!
Amy
Amen!!
Toni
My vices are sweet and salty foods and coca-cola classic.
Courtney
Mmm potato chips and french fries are my necessary evil. I have my little quirks, and I'm okay with it! 🙂
Kathleen
Hmmm. Not sure I have a vice. Can a blog be a vice? If so, mine probably is mine.
Rachel
Yeah, we certainly have turned the word "vice" into a flippant word these days ... it gets used for everything!
April Decheine
Amen! Wine is my VICE for most evening adventures.. Other then that.. Hmm..
Lolo
My vice is diet coke! Trying to break that!
Maureen
I agree - we are all way too hard on ourselves!!
Donna
Amen, Sista! As for smoking - I smoked for 22 years, and have been smoke free for 7 years now... it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. You will do it, just keep trying. 🙂