Life is Exciting!

“When things go wrong as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all up hill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about, When he might have won had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow--You may succeed with another blow, Success is failure turned inside out--The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.” ---Author Unknown

The above is a re-post from an earlier post. It is so true, so many of us quit right before victory would have been ours. A very dear friend asked me Saturday night how much weight I have to lose before I reach my goal. After I told them, it sunk in that I do not have all that much to lose before I reach my goal. I am quoting this dear friend when I write, “Isn’t life exciting?” Well, yes, it is and I always add magical to this comment. It is exciting and dangerous to be so close. I have learned from all of my studies, and research that it is when we get close to our goals or dreams, it is there that so many fall behind, and never complete their own journey. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel as far as my weight loss journey. Yes, I have a few difficult months to go, but this is a lifestyle for me now. I rarely if ever falter any longer and if I do, I am right back on track. Getting back on track does not wait for the next day like days or years of past. Getting back on track happens immediately following the transgression.

I am disheartened that so many in my weight loss challenge at work are faltering after only three weeks. I want to reach out, help them, and give them the pull needed to achieve that which they desire. However, one thing the journey of mine has taught me. You cannot pull someone to victory in anything in life. The best we can do is place our hand out and say this is the way, walk with me. In the end, it has to be in your heart, mind and soul to achieve the unachievable. Each of us has to dig, search and locate the champion or winner inside of us. Every day people ask what are you eating, what are you doing, how is this possible they ask? It is possible because I became a completely different man. I became the man I always desired to be and no longer allow my environment to control my mind or actions. I see with clarity what I want in my life and I stop at nothing to achieve it. It is the man that I will be forever more.

Through this weight loss journey, I suffered incredible heartbreak and cruelty and it did not deter my efforts. I have experienced great joy, love and laughter and it did not deter my efforts. I experienced injuries and setbacks and it did not deter my efforts. Yes, there were bad days and even weeks, but overall I stayed the course. I worked on my mind and spirit harder than anything else and everything else fell into place. I have allowed the man that God wants me to be to surface and every day that man grows stronger. As of this writing, I stand at nearly 190 pounds lost and approximately 40 more to go until I reach my goal. My goal is to be at goal in January, a very tall order indeed. In January, phase two of this journey begins and I shall approach it the same way I have the weight loss journey. Continuing to expand my mind, my spirit, my soul and go full speed ahead. I shall approach everything in my life with this passion and effort from now until the Lord calls me home… hopefully, somewhere around 95. Now, quoting my dear friend, Isn’t life exciting? I believe it is and it is quite magical.

"Everyone says love hurts, but that isn't true. Loneliness hurts. Rejection hurts. Losing someone hurts. Envy hurts. Everyone gets these things confused with love, but in reality love is the only thing in this world that covers up all pain and makes someone feel wonderful again. Love is the only thing in this world that does not hurt." ---Author Unknown

"Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow but a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day." ---Indian Proverb