182.8 It's About Challenges

As a part of my ESL class I've asked the students to come up with a challenge for themselves that they talk about in class. I haven't started doing this yet this semester, but yesterday two of my students talked to me after class about their challenges. One gal challenged herself to do special things for herself. She's raised two children, and always put her husband and children first in her life. One of the things she did for herself was to take Zamba lessons... and now she is teaching it! She's so proud and excited. Another student has already chosen a challenge without me even bringing up the subject. She's going to learn to cook new recipes from her husband's country as a surprise for him. The best challenge story I have is the one about my student who took on the IRS over the phone, got the information he wanted, and was given more help than he thought he needed. I don't know how many folks have even gotten through to the IRS much less been helped graciously and generously.

I find it interesting that I am good at helping others formulate and accomplish their challenges. Maybe I have found something I'm good at :) ! Maybe I could do this for myself, again?

170.2 Can I Help?

A dear friend of mine just emailed me and among other things mentioned that she lost 25 pounds and has put most of it back on. She asked me if I could help her! I am delighted to be asked and look forward to working with her long distance. Now this is exciting!

179.4 Slip Slidin' Away?

Priscilla

I just got off the phone after talking to my sister Priscilla. She's been a great supporter of this weight loss adventure and I've really appreciated her comments and interest in this blog. I was complaining to her that these last ten pounds are turning out to be a huge challenge, when the lyrics to the Paul Simon song popped into my head.

Slip slidin' away
Slip slidin' away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you're slip slidin' away!

Reaching my goal doesn't just mean I will weigh 170 pounds. It also means that I won't be writing daily posts for this blog any longer, and perhaps this blog won't exist. It also means that my relationship with Jennifer Scott will shift and, even though I know that we will forge a better, more equal bond where I will not be the needy one, it has unsettled me.

This is hard to write but I know it's true. I can't keep moving off topic with crazy photos and anecdotes about my eye surgery, etc. I can't continue to write rather vague :) content based on the song Carefree Highway. Yeah, I knew it was, I think I'll stick with the word, vague.

So that's what is really going on. It's the pulling back to stay with what I know while at the same time, experiencing a strong desire to push forward. My inner voice, my inner spirit tells me that my life is going to be one of focusing on others rather than being as self-centered as it has been over the past several years, and that I'll have the opportunity to help others who want to deal with issues of losing weight, and of facing growing older. What's not to like about that?

This moment in my life reminds me a bit of going off to college. I'm at the stage where the car is packed and it's time to hit the road, not knowing exactly what the experience will entail, but having the assurance that I'll be changed for the better once I arrive, unpack the car, move in and get on with it.