Are you a little old woman, or are you a strong adult in the prime of your life? When it comes to giving and taking, or denying yourself for others' benefit like a little old lady, there's a line you cross that harms others, and another line that harms yourself. In between those two lines is a life that benefits everyone. Little old people take less than they need because they have already lived their lives and have given to their communities. Anything they take will maintain them at best, but they'll never get stronger again, and at worst, what they take may not help and just be wasted.

You have crossed the line into self-denial, which is really another kind of self-indulgence, and though you think you are doing without, it is really your friends and family you are denying. You're denying them your strength, your energy, the best version of yourself! None of your friends and family want you to suffer, yet you choose this path of denial. Is it to be recognized for your suffering, to be thought of as good? Good cannot be passive like this. Good must be active because evil is ALWAYS busy!

It would be better for everyone if you would take your turn, take your food, take the resources they expect you to take so that you can be strong enough to benefit your community. If you don't take the resources you need (within reason, of course, don't be greedy either!) or protect the ones you have, how will you ever defend yourself, your loved ones, your children, your property, your pets, your life? How will you help the helpless? What good can you do for your community if you're too weak because you don't eat enough? Aren't you imposing on them more by allowing yourself to become too weak to fight, too weak to lift your share, too weak to help others lift theirs, too weak to fight off a cold?

Get in the roda, and eat your food! Axé!