The Watermelon Credo

Watermelon has been a source of inspiration for me recently!

Last week I was happily munching on some watermelon while on twitter and I posted this: “Is watermelon good for me? It seems too indulgent to be healthy! Yummm…” It was meant as a lighthearted comment, but it created such a buzz of enthusiasm for watermelon I was overwhelmed. So many people responded with health info, recipe ideas and an overall love of this super-fruit. Just take a look at this great article someone sent me on the health benefits of watermelon. Good stuff.

On the 4th of July, my husband and I spent a fun and relaxing day with two other couples. After an awesome dinner we were treated to a heaping plate of watermelon. It stirred some lively conversations: Seeded vs seedless? Exactly where do the seeds go & how do you grow new watermelons if there are no seeds? How do you pick a great watermelon? What is the probability, knowing everything we now know about picking a good watermelon, that we will actually pick a great watermelon? (Two of our friends are math professors. After much computation, the answer they came up with is 40%. I chose to take their word for this). How many pieces of watermelon are too many? We had a lot of fun while we devoured that plate of watermelon and it fueled us for a great game of Taboo!

And then today I opened up the new issue of Costco Connection magazine and there it was again – Watermelon. Wally Amos (creator of The Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookie) writes an article for the Connection called Be Positive. Wally Amos is well known for being an inspirational speaker and for his positive attitude. In 2002 he wrote the Watermelon Credo, which has become the structure for many of his talks. According to Amos “it has been a guide that has helped others and me through rough times.” He shared his credo in the the Connection in the hope of helping us through these rough times, and now I would like to share it here for you:

Wally Amos’ Watermelon Credo

W – Whatever you believe creates your reality. Believe that life is a positive experience and it will be.

A – Attitude is the magic word. Your greatest asset is your attitude. Be positive regardless.

T – Together everyone achieves more. There are no limits to what we can accomplish together. I am more than I am but less than we are.

E -Enthusiasm is the wellspring of life. There is no limit to what can be accomplished with enough enthusiasm.

R – Respect yourself, as well as others. When you begin to respect yourself, your whole world changes.

M – Make commitments, not excuses. There is overwhelming power in the words “Yes I will!”

E – Everyday can be a fun day. Fun is the lubricant that keeps life moving forward. Laugh a lot.

L – Love is the answer. Whatever the question, Love is the answer. It is the greatest force in the Universe.

O – One day at a time. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. All of life happens in increments of one.

N- Never give up or become a victim. You are guaranteed to lose if you give up. Winston Churchill was right, “Never, never, never give up.” It works if you work it.

Watermelon is FUN, inspirational and a great reminder for us to always live life from our highest self. Do not allow yourself to be overwhelmed by events. Let watermelon remind you that you are larger than events. You have the power to create and change events by what you believe. – Wally Amos

Who knew watermelon could be so inspirational? The great and inspirational artist Frida Kahlo did when she painted this:

Viva la Vida

Last night I was on the verge of a flare-up. I was grumpy and frustrated and completely out of focus. Then my husband went to the kitchen and cut us up some watermelon. After chatting in the living room over our bowls of watermelon the next thing I knew I was feeling a little better. Maybe it was the health benefits of the watermelon, or maybe it was the change in my attitude. Maybe it was just coincidence, but somehow the flare-up was avoided.

After finding and reading the Watermelon Credo today, it is all seeming like more than just coincidence. I’m thinking we should all sit down with our loved ones over a bowl of watermelon tonight because T – Together everyone achieves more.