2010-03-13
5:29:50
Still using the treadmill to get my heart apumpin' daily; my winter-induced
and temporary case of "secretary's butt" is givin' up the ghost. The snow's leaving
us here in Michigan now, but it's still pretty miserable walking weather I see outside my window. Everything's
flyin' at warp speed inside, though. Life's about to shift gears in a big way for me; the book tour is about
to begin. I'ved been married to this computer keyboard for so long, my fingers are pretty much grafted to the keys!
Gotta get outta this place for a while!
Very excited about the tour; I'm finally going to be able to spread my message
to more than my poor friends and family members. Some have suggested that I become a Baptist minister, they've
heard me spouting off so often.... I can't help it. I don't want to help it. I am on a mission.
For so many years I had no voice, no forum to relate my experience, my perspective on what's
eating those who misuse food, greatly diminishing their ability to live a full life. These folks are instantly
shunned when they dare to venture out, only because of the package they're housed in. Society's ignorance and
dismissive attitude is stifling for those who feel its sting on a daily basis.
I am driven to
advocate for those who have lost their voice, who've misplaced their value along the way. I am one
story, one voice reaching out to persuade the world in the recounting of my tale and ultimate rebirth, that
people are people no matter their physical form. And that these souls deserve to be treated accordingly, with
dignity, respect, hope and care. Real help for the obese will only be complete with this realization
by society at large.
This change of perspective extends to health care professionals as well.
After all, doctors and nurses are people, too and their atitudes and treatment methods greatly affect outcomes for
all those under their care. The epidemic of obesity is not a simple "garbage in, garbage out"
proposition, though to a great (and unproductive) degree, that is the angle from which it is dealt with. If their
methods of treatment are working, why are so many more of us gaining weight these days? If it ain't broke,
don't fix it.... and if it is broke.... well....? I sometimes think that those with the most degrees hanging
on their walls are the last people on earth to readjust their thinking.... Ah, pride... One of the seven deadly sins, and
for good reason! We common folk are blessed by, well, common sense! And I only listen to an "authority"
when what he/she says 1.) makes sense and 2.) gets the desired results. It's past time for some changes.
I have some ideas of my own based on experience and success. Let's see if those boys and girls with all the fancy
diplomas wanna give a listen. Here's their chance. I've actually met and/or corresponded with a number
of people in the health field over the last few years who are frustrated by the current, ineffective treatment
paradigm; these will be the innovators that implement beneficial change.
Only when those, civilian and professional,
who are "allowed" to breathe the rarified air of freedom, stretch out their hand in support and encouragement,
only when they begin to treat all of their brothers and sisters the way they themselves would wish
to be treated, will those closed inside their homes permanently recapture their lives and true value; their innate
worth. They need to be brought outside and welcomed into the fold of humanity. It's crazy to do otherwise;
they are so very human.
And they've all lost weight before. The obese have lost hundreds of
pounds over a lifetime; they're the experts on weight loss, per se. It isn't willpower or a pyramid food chart
they lack... They know the chart up and down. They've shown their willpower time and time again, far more times
than those who stand outside their circumstance to judge them.
The obese need to heal the wounded
spirit within; once that enlivening process begins, the pounds will peel away as consequence of their renewed sense of
self, a new sense of hope. Obesity is only a symptom displayed on their self-abused bodies; it is not a disease,
but a poor coping mechanism and deeply ingrained habit. And each of us, in our reaching out to those
who hide themselves away, in our acceptance of those who look "different" than ourselves, can be a
part of that magical, elemental "cure."
Yes, the overweight person needs to want
the help offered. But, please remember; for so long they've been told that they have little worth and that they
should just "go away." That is the silent signal they are sent. They are only conforming to the cues
given and to the internal conversation those cues help to create. A wilting flower needs water to begin its revival;
the same is true of any human being who's been thirsty for the welcoming human interaction of which they've unjustly been
deprived for a very long time.
Examine your own life and how you treat others. Give the overweight
person you meet the same smile you'd freely give away to a thin, leggy blonde or some handsome, chiseled-featured
guy. Don't be a fool and judge a book only by its cover. God knows that some beautiful covers hide ugliness
inside. And that a tattered book can hold the most wonderful tales ever written. Unless you open it,
you'll never be sure.
And one day when you pass by a seeming stranger on the street, you may not
at first recognize that once tattered book cover you gave a smile to some time back... Because you will have helped in their
healing and they'll freely give a smile of gratitude and belonging back to you... to thank you for seeing what was
hidden beneath the cover all along.
'Nuff preachin' fer now..... gotta fly.
Later taters...
Nancy
25 January 2010
How Politics and (argh!) Tennis Shoes Saved My
Derriere
Those of you who inhabit warmer climates year round cannot grasp how difficult it is to get enough
exercise when God chooses to land a foot of snow (repeatedly) on the roadways and sidewalks of your community for
many months of the year. His "blessing" makes it difficult to get out to walk/run and
enjoy nature, while at the same time elevating your mood, spirit and giving the old musculature the attention it deserves.
Nobody feels their best when behaving like Grizzlies do in the winter months, becoming lethargic, drowsy and finally napping, just
waiting for spring to melt the snow at the cave's opening....
I used to clean homes for a living, and got my exercise
naturally, the best way possible to keep mind, body and spirit in optimal condition. But many of us are not blessed
to earn our living in a way that allows for such an option. When I was given the opportunity to write my book,
I had to lay down my toilet brush and rubber gloves (oh, the horror!) and take up my pen. Unfortunately, that decision
also meant that I would find myself sitting on my derriere in front of this very computer screen for as many, if not more
hours every day, tap-tap-tappin' on the keys; necessarily, my movement was sorely limited.
Mid-spring
through summer were no challenge at all; I could still go out, take long walks when I wanted to, go camping with the grandkids
or help a friend with some outdoor home improvement project as diversion from my author's work at home. But
unless I wanted to "hike" through the snow in tennis "cleats," and fasten a pillow to my backside to forestall
injuries from a slip and fall accident on a patch of ice during my months of weather-related confinement, I had to divine
another means of getting my heart rate and spirit up. Just eating what keeps me healthy and happy isn't
"the whole enchilada."
You have to be active, too, whatever form that takes and dependent on your physical
condition. The only people that don't need to think about the cause and effect of food and exercise as part of self-care are
dead and buried..... I'd rather stay above ground for the time being.
A dear former client and I were talking
on the phone one day some months ago. I told him that I was feeling ill at ease overall and that it seemed
I was developing a slight case of "secretary's butt" and needed to find a way to divest myself of it.... and
pronto. I was feeling under par emotionally, too. My outlook, my confidence was slipping; I just wasn't
feeling "myself." In years gone by, this incremental excess and emotional malaise would've gone
unnoticed, and if not unnoticed, at least unaddressed. I don't feel that way anymore... I'm important
and how I feel doesn't go unchecked for long; I trust and listen to my internal voice. Everything
we do is interconnected.
I don't know about you, but I deplore the "joining a gym" concept.
I don't wanna wave my arms, still replete with excess skin from my weight loss, in front of other chicks and gents as
I sweat to the oldies, so to speak. I'll keep my skin and sweatin' to myself, thank you very much. Others
may thrive in this venue, fine and dandy... not I. We have to listen to ourselves, not to what the next guy
thinks. It ain't a one size fits all kind of thing.
Then outta the blue, my friend says..... "Let
me buy you a treadmill." He added: "You love to watch political shows; why not marry two activities?
Watch and walk." At first I balked; I'm not in the habit of accepting this kind of charity, but the guy kept
insisting, and seeing as he's not exactly in danger of being dragged off to the poor house for non-payment of bills,
I gratefully accepted his generous offer.
I shopped around and found a great deal on a treadmill with a number
of "bells and whistles;" this sucker even has a port for using an i-pod. (which I don't own!) The
thing measures heart rate, miles walked, time walked, etc.... If you put wheels on it, you could probably take a road trip
to Poughkeepsie; deluxe. All I needed were the basics... but this model was on sale. I love a bargain, my bucks
errr not.
So, I now had the implement and proceeded to put it to use. It was great; I could turn on C-Span's
Washington Journal at 7 AM each morning or another show in the afternoon or evening and walk while I listened to
opposing political opinions, each trying to persuade me that their argument held water, and were not just attempting
to run me through their spin cycle... The time went by effortlessly at first. I was so occupied with what these
people were saying (and sometimes shouting back at them through the TV screen) that before I knew it, I'd walked
a mile.... but not in my mocassins. I was walking in my bare piggies. A big mistake.
There's
a new school of thought that sez that bare foot walking is actually healthier for your feet than wearing tennis shoes.
I like the theory, as I hate footwear of any kind. Even as a child, I used to divest myself of my shoes when out
of eyeshot of my mom. But, until I rid myself of the callouses developed during the years of being on my feet 8
hours per day while cleaning houses, I needed to bow to the Nike God and buy some damnable tennis shoes! The barefoot plodding
was killin' my feet. Perhaps I'll "unshoe" my secret horror and take these toesies to a pedicurist
(when I get some extra moola) and then trying walking again unshod?
Anyhoo, I found a pair of tennis shoes
(decent brand) that were marked at 70% off, and despite their horrific color (turquoise, gray and white!) I purchased the
ugly things, knowing that they'd never see the light of day, beyond the confines of my apartment's interior.
I hadn't put on a pair of tennies since 8th grade Phys. Ed. class..... I didn't like the looks of 'em any better
this time around. But, they just might serve a function, I thought.... and they did! No more painful bottoms of
the feet for this girl. I can walk, and do just that, in three sessions per day; combined, the miles add up to 6
per day. A rate that works well for me.
So, the motto iz, folks.......
Where there's a will, there's
a way.... Use your God-given creativity to find what works for you, what makes you happy.... what you can live with.... and
moreso, what you can't live without. For me, that's people, politics, movement and yes... at this
point at least..... damnable and ugly tennis shoes. If joining a gym isn't for you, find an alternative. I
found mine, at least for this time in my life and the time of year... changes in my daily activities will bring with them
the need to tack my lifeboat's course in a new direction.
Your plan may be vastly different.
Small steps make for big changes down the road. If you can't do a lot, do what you can; excuses are just
that... excuses for not moving forward. If you do this, you are sabotaging your future. If you act like a victim,
you'll always be a victim. If you want change, change the things you can, however insignificant they seem
right now. Each positive act will bring results, just as surely as negative ones do.... they will change what
you think, about you, your capabilities and about the world around you. Do it for yourself, because you
are valuable. Exercise, ie: activity, is only one aspect of a human being's life. We are a mixture
of body, mind and spirit. Neglecting any one of the "whole" causes the disconnect that leaves us faltering,
unsure and feeling incomplete. Give your love and time to someone else today in any way you can and
watch the magic that's released. You will begin to treat yourself as you treat others... Little gestures move mountains.
Believe.
19 January 2010
Well, at long last all the months and months of tap-tap-tappin'
on the keyboard is bringing forth fruit. My memoirs are due to be published in April 2010, now just a few months away.
Yee Haw!
I've learned some things about the publishing world as well as about myself during this process;
revelations have been surprising on both fronts!
As for the observations I've made about myself, I'm a
lot more tenacious than I ever imagined. However along with that discovery came the realization of how much the events
of my 53 years on the planet and how I chose to internalize those happenings have impacted who I was, am and
who I may become tomorrow. The writing of this book, the reliving of my childhood and beyond has also given me better
tools to keep my life running on a forward moving and hopeful trajectory. The privilege and opportunity to share
my story has been an eye opening experience for which I am truly grateful.
My book is being published under the
Dutton/Penguin books imprint and its title (after some wrangling back and forth betwixt editor and author) will be:
"703: How I Lost Over a Quarter Ton and Gained a Life."
An article about my story will be featured
in Grand Rapids Magazine in March 2010. Look for me in other upcoming venues, in print, on radio and television.
I will update the website as dates and times become available.
I am investigating the option of including a chat
feature on this site. I think it would be a powerful format to both help support one another and to network for changes
needed in a variety of areas of society and in the health care field to better serve those who so dearly wish to reconnect
to a better, full and more happy life.
My hope is that the story of my re-birth can help
many who have lost the belief that their lives can be anything but what they see before them now. They only need
re-discover what lies within each of us and take back what they thought was lost forever. And I should know ......
I was where each of these people are now, not so very long ago.
With
love, peace and so much hope,
Nancy
