[MrsDawsondn]

As I go through changes in the process of losing this weight it has been an emotional and a spiritual battle as well. I have overcome a lot of things in my 30+ years of life and I am learning so much in the time that I've taken to spiritually cleanse and get a clearer perspective on my life.
One of the greatest changes that I am realizing as I follow this journey in life is that nothing that comes easy will be maintained or rewarded in a way that hard work does.
I know it's cliché and I've heard it a million and one times but it really resonates with me now. My husband would always say,"Why is life so hard for us and so easy for everyone else?" "It's like we have to work twice as hard to live, love, and enjoy life when we know people that take life, health and strength for granted, are lazy and have no push to achieve higher."

At one point in my life I wanted everything to be easy but the more that I look inward, the more that I look upward I see that nothing that's worth having or cherishing is easy.
When people ask how I lost weight I will NEVER again start the sentence with "Well all I did was..." or "I SIMPLY did this....". This journey to better health, to a better quality of life, and even to success in all facets of life is HARD. Not so hard that I cannot accomplish my goals but I KNOW I am going to have to put in work in order to achieve all that I am to be. There is no easy way out of losing 150+ lbs, there is no easy way of becoming successful and aggressive in the workplace, There is no easy way to raise stellar and absolutely delightful children, or achieving the spiritual positioning and the call that God has on my life.

IT ALL REQUIRES WORK Hard WORK.
whether it be getting up @ 5AM for exercise consistently and counting calories, doing extra homework on that problematic issue @ work that needs solving to bring a profit, Putting in the time to nuture, love, care for and instill values into my children, and Going into those deep dark forgotten places of the soul to be healed so as to effectively minister as God wants me to.

And from this day forward with that mentality in mind I am putting on perseverance and drive to accomplish all of the goals that are set before me. I'm moving forward

[Onederchic]

Good for you!!! You CAN do it!!!!

[jenwoobiekins]

Very insightful - kind of reminds me of the story of the butterfly - the man watched the caterpillar struggle to break free from it's cocoon and helped it along, but the butterfly was never able to fly because it needed the struggle out of it's cocoon as part of it's life cycle. Kind of the whole "struggles make you stronger and changes make you wise"!

[Vixsin]

Mrs D, what a great post! I am learning similar things myself as I have embarked on my journey. The biggest thing I am doing differently this time is to NOT look at it as all or nothing. I am learning to love myself for what I have to offer. The number on the scale will never define me again and food will never be my comfort again.

I think it's great that you can acknowledge all of the positive things that have come out of this journey, not just the weight loss. Sending great and positive thoughts to all of us who are changing our lives 1 pound and 1 meal at a time!

Stay Strong! We can do it!!!

[MrsDawsondn]

@jenwoobekins I totally agree and if I could really describe this whole process it would definitely be that of the butterfly. Awesome thanks

@Vixsin and onderchic I agree totally thanks for the encouragement