I love the sharp crack when I open a fresh can, the hiss of carbonation escaping, the ice cubes popping in my freshly poured drink.

Mmmmmm…sweet, sweet, Coca-Cola - my love for you is becoming a problem.

My whole family drinks Coke. It was always in the fridge growing up, in the cooler at the beach, with our burgers at McDonalds. My mom even gave it to us when we had upset stomachs - a treatment I practice to this day. In fact, I’m drinking a Coke right now.

Sure, I’ve given up Coke from time to time. Back when I used to diet, I would ban Coke from my house. I hate Diet Coke and will never drink it, so I just had to go without. Often, after visiting the dentist, I go on a No-Coke kick - I don’t want to sully my perfectly clean, white teeth.

The last time I quit Coke was in an effort to minimize my consumption of high-fructose corn syrup. Then I discovered that I could get cane-sugar Cokes at the Mexican grocery, so I invited Coke back into my life. But only as a treat, on special occasions, when I was really craving one - you all know how that goes, right?

What started out as a once-in-a-while thing has once again become an every-day occurance. I drink Coke as a treat, or a pick-me-up, a reward for going to the gym, to get me through late-night study sessions, because I’m craving something sweet, or the Britta filter is funky, whatever. I stopped drinking only the cane-sugar ones and started back on the hfcs ones. I comparison shop for the best deals, and you know Coke is always on sale, so I can always justify the purchase.

I have found myself at work thinking: I can’t wait go home and crack open a nice, cold Coke. If I come home and find that my husband, or worse, my roomate, has drunk all my Cokes, I am super grumpy. More than might be called for in such a situaion, I must admit. I think about quitting, but I don’t. I’m engaging in all types of addicty behavior* around my Coke drinking these days. And that’s just not good.

Sure, maybe it seems pretty minor compared to other things I’ve been addicted to. A can of Coke a day in an otherwise healthy diet - is that truly so wrong? Yes, these are the questions I’ve been pondering lately when I should be thinking about English compositions. And I have to say that yes, it is a problem. Here is why:

I’m drinking Coke when I’m tired and I should be getting rest. I’m drinking it as a way to nurture myself, instead of doing something that’s truly nurturing to my body and spirit. I’m drinking it thoughtlessly, because it’s there in the fridge, sometimes just slugging it down without even enjoying it at all. I’m drinking too much Coke and not enough water. The caffine exacerbates my health problems. Most of all, I’m drinking it out of habit even though the habit of drinking it doesn’t serve me well.

This may seem small, but it’s important. That’s one of the things I’ve learned in recovery and from reading blogs here at TSR - it’s important to pay attention to how I take care of myself, or how I don’t. These little things, when left unchecked, sometimes turn into bigger things. And though it’s not a huge thing, this Coke-drinking, it certainly does have an effect on how I’m feeling.

So I’m going to be looking at what’s going on with me when I’m reaching for that red-and-white can. Am I tired? Sad? Feeling unappreciated? Maybe I need some yoga or a bath, to call a friend or drink some juice. Maybe I really, really do want the Coke, and then I should sit down and enjoy it.

*Thanks to The Junky’s Wife for coining this awesome phrase!