What a difference a year makes

When speaking to JC on the phone, he reminded me that it was around this time last year we first spoke. He had asked me to contribute an article to the DFM newsletter. So I searched and came up with out original correspondence of 6-30-09. Hope it makes you smile as much as me. Oh, and none of the 3 amigos are still in my gym. But I have a whole boatload of NEW Amigos. And of course, Jake the Great :)

My email to JC: Man has this been cathartic. I cried every time I rewrote below. And “verbose” is a wonderful way to describe me. As a matter of fact, when I looked it up in the dictionary it said “see Janet”.

Oh, and I’m much younger, thinner and prettier than the picture.

Hope this makes sense!






ARTICLE

Why am I so driven? Because last winter I felt myself slowly dying. Today I feel life inside me. My first medially diagnosed episode of Multiple Sclerosis was in 1994. Last winter I fell often, hurt, was in constant pain and after 15 years with this disease was just tired. In 15 years I have tried everything from weekly injections to acupuncture and crystals – all with little to no success. But I decided I would not go down without one last all-out effort. When I joined the gym in April I literally had to walk in using my cane. My 3 Amigos were waiting for me: my trainer extraordinaire and new friend-for-life Ryan, and the two Mikes. From Day One I was never treated like a 2nd class citizen. They told me they would be with me through my entire journey, and have been. It hasn’t always been easy. When I started, Ryan had to help me find where to place the cane within easy grasp because I needed it get on and off all the equipment, and around the gym. Today, 2 months later, I no longer even bring the cane with me. For the first time in YEARS I can stand up from a seated position without leaning on anything or anyone. It bears repeating because it is so significant: I feel life, not death, in my veins. My desire is for EVERYONE who has given up hope, to find it again. To know you are all here for them. To Ryan specifically, and to ALL of you, I say a heartfelt thank you – you are doing so much more than just helping people lose weight (which in and of itself is important). Every one of you has literally helped save my life. And one benefit I’ve discovered from working out – I’m too tired to be depressed. J

Roadblocks

You know, in life you will always have roadblocks on your path. Sometimes it is disease, injury, financial, job loss, companion loss, death, or maybe just a plateau in your weight loss. This has been a tough week for me, and I was at a point I was REALLY having a pity party, until a very good friend said “stop being a drama queen and get on with your life”. Now maybe I wasn’t initially receptive to her, but the words began to set in. It is so easy to over-react to people and situations. But we all have to resolve in our hearts that the decisions we make in life are forever, regardless of outside influences. The primary focus in my life currently is faith, nutrition, exercise, and a continuing commitment to health. Everything else, get out of the way!

So what do we do when these events occur? Well, first of all own up to our personal responsibility, change what we can, and vow to never repeat the mistake. And then learn to just let go and go on. And it is easier said than done, I KNOW. But really, what is the alternative? Because the one thing I have personally learned is negativity CAN and WILL influence your health. Is it worth it?

So I vow to start anew (again) with a new attitude. (Why am I thinking of Patti Labelle right now?) Want to join me?