I had my final Diet Coke today...for real this time.

It’s time to say goodbye to my vice. I justified it for so long, but the evidence against it is now just too overwhelming to ignore. Aspartame probably causes cancer. It effects your mood (anxiety and depression). It leads to weight gain. And so much more! I figured for the longest time that since I didn’t smoke crack, or cigarettes, or something really bad, a Diet Coke a day was totally fine. I mean, I haven’t even tasted butter in years at this point! So what’s a Diet Coke a day?? But it’s bad too. I think it would probably be better to eat a real live cookie every day if it’s a small one, than have a DC.

So this afternoon, I went next door to the Pizza Hut (I’m so Midwestern) and bought my final DC. It was a perfect one to be the final. It was slushy with ice it was so crisp and cold. And the caffeine rush was fantastic! But as I threw the bottle away I thought of everything I’m gaining - a release of my building anxiety, a chance to not get cancer (at least not from aspartame), and not to gain weight. All pretty good things, in exchange for giving up the sweet, refreshing, oh-so-satisfying first sip of a fountain DC…plus all the fake crap that comes along with it. And who doesn’t need less fake crap in their life?? I’m pretty sure I’m the one coming out on top of this break up.