The Power of YOU

I've hesitated posting this, because first off I really am not doing it looking for compliments or even encouragement and I'm worried it may appear that way.  I've received tons of both already and can't tell everyone how much I appreciate their words of encouragement.  It's keeping me on track, it's helping me make it, and I just want to send out a word of thanks to all of you!

So this is a post about YOU, not me.  It's a post about the power of a kind word, the power of a friend, the power of family and the power, each of you reading this, of you.

There is no secret about my efforts to shed pounds - the story of my life.  But the last several years, I've been trying instead to simply change habits.  To exchange my defeating bad eating and lifestyle habits for rewarding healthy eating and lifestyle habits.  When you get as old as me, that's like changing the very core of who I am, and it isn't easy.  But along the way comes each of you.  Your encouragement, your compliments, your caring - wow!  you will never know just how much each word means to me!  And you probably don't even know what a great influence you are.

Thursday I stepped on the scales at Weight Watchers and could not describe the rush of excitement when the first digit stopped at 1!  I finally broke 200 after many years of plowing the other direction into that number set on the scales!  (Over 240 at my heaviest).

As I left the meeting place, I was overwhelmed with gratitude, and I started to cry.  I've been fighting within seven pounds of that goal for four months - through the holidays, through Valentines, through it all.  I had been stuck on my usual plateau, and certain I would only gain everything back.  I tried to avoid negative self-talk about it, but I just knew in my heart I was simply going to start gaining it all back and there would be nothing I could do about it because my metabolism had kicked in and decided to fight my efforts once again, so there I was.  Many weeks I was tempted to not weigh in, knowing it had been a no progress week.  But I kept going.  Because of you.

Because you would tell me just out of the blue one day that I was looking good.  Because you, another person, would encourage me to keep going.  Because yet another would smile and tell me I could do it.  I wish I was the kind of person who could just do it on my own and maybe one day I'll get there.  I'm working on it, but I realize right now just how important we all are to each other.  We just can't do it without each other.  There is a place in every person's life, no matter what their personal struggle is, for the smile, the congratulations, the "way-to-go".

And you who read this blog, all of you, are just that kind of person who reaches out to encourage and help another.  I love you!  I love the example you set for me and I love the way you live your lives.  Congratulations for making life a better  place for everyone who knows you!  And THANK YOU for who you are.