We all walk through this life from somewhere, on our way to somewhere else. From the day we are born to the day we die we are the sum of all that we've done, seen, heard, chosen, etc. The building blocks to who we are are made up of these experiences, and how we choose to move forward is determined by each of them. This blog is not about dwelling on the negatives of the past, but a salute to how they have motivated a more positive future. My journey from childhood to young adult was filled with normal kid stuff. My family loved me, and they still do. My parents both worked hard, we did family activities, went to church, fought, laughed, played and got through the days the best way we could. Sometimes we cried, sometimes we giggled til we were exhausted from the glee, and there are some things we wish we could do over and change. I wouldn't change much, because those times made me who I was when I got pregnant and married - yes in that order. The next 22 years were a combination of wonderful highs and dark, horrible lows. The memories of the highs - the things I am learning to focus on when thinking of the past - are composed of my children, my beautiful, compassionate, stronger-than-nails daughter, and my handsome, brave, faces the world-with-enthusiasm son. The lows are a mixture of verbal, mental and emotional abuse that put me into a place of insecurity with myself, a place where I ate to cover my emotions and through which I grew to be an unhealthy weight. I didn't know who I was because I couldn't face my own reflection in the mirror, and when I did glance up to see, I didn't like who looked back at me. The day that my ex husband told me he was leaving me turned out to be one of the biggest blessings in my life, for after we parted ways my life began anew and I started to learn not only who I was, but how strong I could be, and I began an amazing journey during which I would find the love of my life, and my life itself.In January 2005 I turned 40, became a single mother unexpectedly, moved out with my son, changed jobs and was thrust into a world that I didn't recognize. It was a world in which I had to make my own decisions without anyone criticizing what those decisions were, it was a world in which I was responsible for everything that happened in my home, and a world in which I wasn't screamed at, belittled, or called names. It was a world in which new experiences began rushing at me and I chose to face that head on. In that world I met the man who was destined to be the love of my life, and who ultimately took my hand and showed me that I was worthy of love, worthy of respect and worthy of good health. I still hadn't recognized that for myself - for all of my attempts hadn't worked and it was so much easier to give up on good health than to keep pursuing one dead end after another.
In November 2010, one month after my daughter's marriage to our beloved son-in-law, after seeing with horror the pictures from the wedding (see red dress photo), I was given an opportunity to meet with a new naturopath, and with the encouragement of R, my husband, I began her weight loss program. This was a major turning point in my life!After a few months on her program I had an epiphany! I didn't mind looking in the mirror! I liked who I saw looking back at me! The me I now see in the mirror, though still a stranger in appearance sometimes, I like her! This me can do things I could never do before. I can walk long distances, climb steep trails, I can RUN! Yes, I said it! I can run! Not for great distances, but for me, any running is AMAZING! This program brought me health, it brought me energy, it brought me a new business that allows me the blessing of helping others lose weight and find their lives too. And now, on to the reason for this series of blogs. This is a record of me learning to live life by new standards I have set for myself. I choose to live life active and healthy, and I am documenting the stages as they happen. I will be sharing preparation tips and ideas, the activities themselves, and side trips along the way. They may not always have a cohesive rhyme or reason, but when does life go in a straight line? It's much more entertaining when it twists and turns along the way. Join R (my husband) and I, as we hike the trails and byways of our beautiful Pacific NW, as we kayak across bays and lakes, as I make my first reluctant step off of a bridge to learn to rapel, with R going over the edge with me to keep me strong, and as we find lovely little places to visit throughout our local travels. Lace up your boots, here we go!
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