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Live your true self…
Back in December, at a conference for professional speakers, a well known American speaker gave me some advice. She said “Your story is remarkable and you tell it with passion, but you need to help people figure out why they need to lose weight”.
I was dumbfounded. I hadn’t thought about that. As a morbidly obese person, it never occured to me that I didn’t have to lose weight. All my life I had been large - I always knew, even as a child that I needed to lose weight.
We know. You know. I don’t have to tell you. You know if you are missing out on life because of your weight. You know if it’s hard to breathe, walk, talk and move. Not being able to keep up with your children, ashamed to wear a bathing suit, always buying black clothing…you know. You live, know and understand the “numbers”.
In retrospect, I now realize what she was saying to me. “Stephanie, help people discover why losing weight is important enough to them to stick it out - through the tough times and to believe that they can accomplish this.” That’s what she was saying to me…and here’s what I share with you.
It’s true…YOU are the only person who can take this trip, journey, path - whatever you choose to call it…the road to health. But YOU are not the sole reason for doing it. Look around, what do you see?
When I had my light bulb moment, I was explaining to my children how to escape out of our bilevel home in case of fire. Have I mentioned my children are beautiful…big blue eyes, deep and soulful. As I showed them where the fire escape ladder was kept, I realized in that moment, I couldn’t fit out the window. I would not be able to save my life. They saw it in my eyes…the realization that I might not be able to save them either…and would not be around afterward to take care of them. WHAT HAVE I DONE????? literally screamed in my head at that moment. My years of selfishness, eating what and when I wanted, not moving, not living was causing everyone to pay a price - everyone I loved and adored.
Here is it….it’s not about you. It’s all about the people who love you. Fortunately, you will benefit from a healthy life…but in the end, so will they, because you will start to live one again.
That’s what keeps me going through the tough times. Three beautiful, innocent faces to whom I am the world. Two sons who need to know their Mother is strong, fit and healthy - capable of making her dreams come true. Sons who know that beauty is only skin deep and that a healthy body and mind are important. A daughter who knows that her self-worth is not determined by her body image and who sees herself and strong, capable and confident. The full meal deal.
They are my anchors…the motivators who keep me moving forward to I can live to see them live their lives. Only I can do this, but it’s not all about me. I am accountable to them. I am their world.
To whom are you the world?
Filed under: Thoughts — Stephanie @ 4:54 pm
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