This weekend while camping, I was able to hike (with my very fit friends) to the top of the second highest sand dune in Great Sand Dunes National Park. It wasn't easy, and there were times I thought I'd have to give up. But instead of giving up, I made each step into an analogy for the struggle that we're all going through here. Each step forward (and up) was a decision that I'd made. Each step was a victory. And sometimes the sand would give way and it'd be just like walking on a treadmill, but it didn't matter... I knew that before long, I'd gain traction and I'd be moving forward again. And eventually, I made it all the way to the top.
Maybe it was easy for my fit friends (it certainly seemed easy for them, but maybe not). But it wasn't easy for me and I did it anyway. Climbing that big old pile of sand, I realized that (as cheesy as it may sound) I will lose this weight. I just will. I will because I know I am stubborn enough to keep going when my body hurts and my strength is gone and I'm tired and I feel like giving up. I know I will because it feels too good to succeed.
This all came at the perfect time for me, as I've been struggling with a bit of a plateau for a while. Sometimes all you need is a walk in the woods (or sand, in this case) to clear things up.
Aero, that's an awesome accomplishment and all the more meaningful relating it to the long term struggle we're all working through.