Success, Validation, and Hallmark…
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?Success is loving life and daring to live it?? ~Maya Angelou
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I love Maya Angelou. She is one of my favorite writers. So full of wisdom she is.
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Friday, when I got home from work, a card and small gift were waiting for me courtesy of my husband, of course, to congratulate me on finally reaching the 170?s?On the card was the above saying?
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And inside, these words:
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?You always dare to do more?to achieve more?to be more??
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And of course, he added his own words of praise and support?This was all very sweet, and much appreciated, especially since my day at work on Friday turned out to be rather crappy!
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I have reflected on these words a lot this weekend?Because when I read them they went right to my heart. Because I have always tried to love my life, whatever it entailed, and live it to its fullest?When things were thrown at me, as they often are in life, I would falter, for a moment, but always, I marched on?I have, through the years, pushed my fears aside, and stepped out on the ledge many many times. Afraid of failing, absolutely, but more afraid of not even trying?
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How many of us put off this weight loss journey more then once, because we were afraid? How many of us have fallen off the wagon, more then once, and were afraid to get back on?? How many of us, deep in our souls, are not even so much afraid of failing, but of succeeding??? Because we all know that often success brings changes?And changes bring fear?I bet there are many of us?
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I spent all of my 20?s afraid of trying to lose weight?Afraid I couldn?t do it?Afraid it would just be too hard. Afraid I would fail. I was afraid to do new things, or meet new people, or form new friendships. I hid behind my fat like a suit of armor?Fear, used in that manor, is not good?
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Then when I was 31, my father passed away. Very unexpectedly. He had been overweight his whole life. Diabetic. Heart problems. High blood pressure. I became afraid that I would end up just like him and die before my time?Fear.
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In this case, the fear pushed me to finally begin this weight loss journey.
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In the early days, I used this fear of dying as my battle cry. When times got hard and I wanted to reach for that burger and fries, I would simply think of my dad, and what he wouldn?t give up to have a chance at life again?I cant be certain, of course, but I imagine he would give up a burger, if he could do it again?
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Fear, used in that manor is good?
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So, again, I am back to this card?
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A simple card. Hallmark. $2.49. This card probably means more to me then anything else given to me in the last year?Because it is validation for me. Validation of a philosophy I have tried to adhere to in my world. At all costs. That it came from my husband is no great surprise. He often knows me better then I know myself, I think?
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With this simple card, he validated my journey?Almost four years in the making?And he let me know that he noticed?Even when others don?t, that I do dare to live my life?By my rules. My standards. My guidelines?
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Somewhere along the way, in the last four years, I stopped letting fear rule me?I take much greater risks then ever before. I try things now I would never have tried before. I love quicker, and more deeply now, because I am not afraid to do so. The fear is there, ever lurking in the background, but I seem to have found the power to control it better then ever. To step outside my box, while keeping it locked within?
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So I guess the message of this rambling blog today is, if its fear holding you back?From anything?Weight loss, family business, jobs, life, etc?Don?t let it?Please don?t?Life is pathetically too short?Way too short to let fear be the reason to not try. We must, all of us, at least try?
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Buddies, I hope that you all conquer some small fear today! And I wish for all of you to have your own validation soon, and the will and strength to dare to live your life!
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Happy Monday!
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Another inspiring blog Dawnie. I’m going to ponder on your thoughts for a while because that is a very interesting question. Is fear holding me back from something??? I feel that it is.
Thanks again for sharing your wisdom with us dear.
—Valerie
P.S. You look great!!!!
Wow!! Very nice!! All that from a $2.49 card!! Quite impressive!! Kudos to Steve for selecting the right card!!!
Honestly though Dawn what you say here is very true. Everyone needs validation for their hard work!! We all see ourselves changing shape but it isn’t the same as when others see it and let us know they see it!! You have truly come a long way!! It is hard for me to see you as that fearful fat girl anymore.. You’ve been a pretty confident person since I’ve met you and I have no doubt that is what drives you on this journey!! Thanks for the inspiration!
Beautiful, Dawnie, What a sweet, caring hubby you have.
Thanks for sharing…those are wonderful thoughts! You have done such a great job and it is very inspiring to me. You also are lucky to have such an intuitive and supportive husband! Take care! Molly
I have a fear. It may be small and silly but I am afraid to join an aerobics class. I fear I can’t follow the stpes right or keep up, but I may conquer that this week and join, who knows…..silly, I know.
Oh my what an inspiring blog! You always inspire me with your wisdom! You are a wonderful and amazing person!
Have an awesome night!
OMG Dawnie!! This blog is so incredibly deep and rings to me during this time more than ever!! Thank you so much for always willing to share so openly and fearlessly. This one just spoke to me in volumes!!! A big
to you.
Wonderful blog Dawn! I absolutely love what you shared with us today.
great blog & CONGRATS on the fantastic weight loss! I am back here and looking forward to following in your foot steps.
What a wonderful blog to start the week. Thank you Dawn and wow, kudos to Steve, what a wonderful, supportive husband! Hold on to him with all your might, good men like him are a dime a dozen. I am not saying that there aren’t good men out there I am just saying Steve is a keeper for sure!!
I’m glad you have newfound “perspective” and that you are living proof that we have to step out of our comfort zone to achieve, to live and to succeed!
God bless you Dawnie!
you are so beautiful Dawnie. Your blogs are so deep and have helped me in so many ways. You are also very blessed to have a husband who loves you and is so proud of his wife
Great Blog!!! Very inspirational and true.
Great Blog!!! Very inspirational and true.
What a sweet thing for Steve to do!!
Your blog made me think. I think fear may have been what caused me to gain so much weight and not be able to get it off - fear of being abused! I realized that it was during the times I was slimmer that I was abused, mentally and physically. And maybe I gained the weight as a defense mechanism. But I don’t have anything to be afraid of now. I know Micheal won’t abuse me, nor will he let anybody else. And I know that I can handle myself. I’m not so naive now. And I don’t have to be afraid anymore.
Thanks, Dawnie!
I need a Steve in my life ; ) It never ceases to amaze me how incredibly restrospective you are, and how by being so you hit the bull’s eye on so many issues with everyone of us. Thanks for being so inspirational.
Thank you once again
I too have had the fear of not wanting to deal with my fears because I was afraid of what that might mean. What a sweetie you have. It is the little things that matter most I swear. Be well and have a great week Dawn.
As you know, my Dad died in a very simliar way. He went unexpectedly, type one diabetic with a bad heart, no one knew about the bad heart. I was 29 and my brother was 26 when it happened. I’ll never forget the unfairness of it. The thing that was opposite for me was it caused me, in part, to gain loads of weight and to not care about dying young. I didn’t care about anything any more and it showed. It took me all these years to realize that I was dishonoring him by being the way I was.
I know the fear, for so long I was afraid to even try to lose weight because I feared it wouldn’t work and I would get even more depressed. I feared failing to the point that I refused to even try.
You’ve come such a long way, it is so easy to see how much you’ve grown in just the time that I’ve known you on here. I’ve no doubt that you are going to go where you want in life!
