Boots are hip...and mine actually bend...not the boots, my hips!

Celebrating another WOW moment!

After massive weight loss, (that still has a funny ring to it, who me? massive weight loss?) doing everyday things become "normal" again.  I'm still discovering all the things I couldn't do before. 

I read a greeting card when I was overweight that I just had to purchase, it was so me.  It read something like this: Today, I decided to go to exercise class, after hours of sweating, pulling, stretching and total exhaustion...I finally got one leg into my leotard.

There are times I still hesitate to reach down for things on the floor especially if I'm seated.  I'm always amazed when I can do these things with such ease, because in my mind, they still seem difficult or impossible.

This morning I was reminded once again how I can not only put on tights with great ease, but also put on my boots without a struggle.  I can bend at the hip, still breathing, slide my foot into my boot and get back up again...all while breathing, without fainting or turning red in the face.  When I return to a standing position my pants aren't ripped in the seat either...Amazing!!! And the other foot goes on just as easily! Imagine that!

But the great thing is, I don't just imagine it, I'm doing it!

Remember the song, "These Boots Are Made For Walking"... "one of these days these boots are going to walk all over you." That is just about how I felt before losing weight.  The boots, or even shoes for that matter, had already won the battle without ever making it onto my foot. 

But not anymore...Now I love wearing boots, all kinds...I probably have more boots than shoes.

Yep, "these boots are made for walking, and that's just what I'm doing...

...and yes, you can...you have many more miles to go!

Last year about this time you'll recall I did a post on "words".  So I thought I would share my most recent word list.  

Recently I've been reviewing re words. Re means to return something to it's original state.  Restoration.  Then I remembered a few years ago I compiled a list of "re"words.  I went back to review them...

OK so, I am moved by "words". 

As you read the list, I hope it helps you as well.  

These are the words that I am looking to recall in my life! 

restore

rebuild

renew

redeem

release

recovery

reclaim

repair

rejoice

remember

relax

refresh

rejuvenate

retreat

replenish

reset

reimage

return

receive

refine

refill

reclaim

reflect

reposition

reinstate

recall

recreate

renounce

regenerate

reveal

refine

review

rename

While preparing for weight loss surgery, we are inundated with information about the physical “how to” aspects of surgery.  We are informed about all the ‘what’, ‘what not’ and ‘how much’ to eat.  But in all the preparing, we rarely hear communicated the process of the emotional struggle involved in making our way over to the new side of life.  

I have found that the process of losing weight and maintenance during the last few years has been a lot more than just losing weight and learning what it means to be healthy. For me, it has been an inward journey of discovery to wholeness.  

I’ve discovered the things that motivate and inspire me and keep me moving forward, sometimes over obstacles that occasionally seem like huge ravines that threaten to swallow me.  There are thought patterns that have been revealed which I have had to face and up-root.  The path has led over some rough terrain of spiritual as well as physical significance.   

Along the way I have discovered, on those whom I could lean or count on for support.  In that count, believe it or not, I have discovered to include myself. Learning to depend on myself to take care of my needs and not just those around me. Then, there is learning to cope with the day-to-day life situations that living brings my way.   

Sometimes the path I follow is on solid ground and sometimes it has been like the crossing of a bridge, when the ground beneath me is a little thin, and I really don’t know how far it will be the other side and my security is threatened, not knowing if the support on which I lean will hold me up.  

A lot of people I know don’t like bridges.  I will admit they can be very intimidating.  To cross a bridge, means putting your full faith in the fact that the bridge will support you until you get to the other side, to solid ground. 

Another thing about bridges is, once you’re on, the only way is forward.  You can’t turn around, if you’re in a car, and you can’t make any turns to the right or left.  Forward...is your only choice.  

Bridges, however intimidating, can help us get from one place to another, taking us where we want to go, making the journey shorter, safer and easier.

Following the theme of bridges; in his book, Bridges, David J. Brown explains it like this, "Every bridge ever build, from the first log across a stream to the latest gravity-defying marvel, has used the properties of its materials to withstand, overcome and exploit the forces to which it is subjected. These forces have three origins, the bridge's own weight, the dead load, the traffic passing over it, the live load, and other external environmental loads, such as wind, earthquakes or water." 

In other words, bridges must be built with materials strong enough to support stresses.  These stresses can be enormous.  The bridge must bear its own weight, the weight of traffic, and environmental and external loads. Paramount is the ability of the material to cope with the forces against it, and the support system on either side of the construction. 

Bridges can be as primitive as a natural rock formation, man-made from vines, fallen trees, or more complex as a modern marvel with intricate design and impressive engineering, but no matter the type, from simple to complex, all bridges have three things in common.  A bridge must be constructed of the right material, be structurally sound and engineered property to conform to its location.  

The ability of the materials to cope with these “forces” is called strengths. 

I’ve been considering, on this journey of weight loss success, about my strengths.

Weight loss surgery has been a bridge for me.  A tool to carry me over the obstacle that otherwise would have been difficult if not impossible to cross. 

One of the materials I have found certain in my life has been my faith in the Lord. He has been my firm foundation and strong support when my path has led over troubled waters. 

One of the most important features of my journey is finding the proper support on either side of the expanse. Not only have I put my faith in The Lord, but I have found strength and support from those around me, my family and friends, and including those who respond to this blog, who encourage me along with way. I have learned in the process that in order to hold up to the journey, I also must be strong enough to carry my own “weight” in life and sound enough to hold up under the storms of life.  

How about you?

What materials will you use to strengthen the bridge that holds your path?  

Do you have the proper support system on either side in which to lean?  

What will you need to endure the storms and circumstances and stresses in your life? 

Bridges carry the path, which carries you over.  They stand strong and sturdy, withstanding their own weight, the weight of others and enduring the elements.  They reach out to strong supports that allow them to fulfill their purpose. 

I encourage you today, in this season, if you find yourself on uncertain ground, there is a solid foundation that lies ahead.  You can make it to the other side…and the journey is worth the effort.  You will find yourself strengthened along with way. Reach out and find the support you need to fulfill your purpose.   

I can say with Paul in the book of Philippians; Not that I have already attained...but one thing I do, forgetting that which is behind, I strain toward what is ahead, with all that is within me, I press on with a diligent and earnest pursuit toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ… 

Yes we can, we have many more miles to go!

Fog is an illusion.  It looks like a big deal, but all in all it really doesn't add up to much.  

Fear like fog is just an illusion.  It hides those things that are real and true.

According to the Bureau of Standards, "A dense fog covering seven city blocks, to a depth of 100 feet, is composed of something less than one glass of water." So, if all the fog covering seven city blocks, 100 feet deep, were collected and held in a single drinking glass, it would not even fill it.

If this could be compared to our worries, it wouldn't amount to much.  If we can see into the future and if we could see our problems in their true light, they wouldn't tend to blind us to the world, to living itself, but instead could be relegated to their true size and place. And if all the things most people worry about were reduced to their true size, you could probably put them all into a drinking glass, too.

 40 percent of the things you worry about will never occur anyway.

 Only 8 percent of your worries are worth concerning yourself about. Ninety-two percent are pure fog with no substance at all. 

Let's step out of our fog of fear and worry...yes, we can, we have many more miles to go! 

Information Source: The Essence of Success by Earl Nightingale. Edited by Carson V. Conant