Tuesday, November 9, 2010

DAY 453 Choosing My Identity on Toon Tuesday






Hi there, Journal & Friends,

I wrote this post, but had decided to just skip posting it, cuz I didn't "feel" like it, and felt like a phony... then I read Anne's post at Carb Tripper (HERE).



She drew a hilarious series of cartoons (on her cell phone!) that snuck in a serious message. It was about the 3 Pigs--weight loss version. And here is the line that hooked me: "Her MO was strong... she made time for working out - even on days she didn't "feel" like it."

So, whether or not I "feel" like it, I am doing this, too. I will not curl up in a ball and withdraw. I will go on. Here then, is the post I was going to dump, because I didn't "feel" like it. Instead, I "choose" it.




I am a weight loss Warrior.


Unapologetically. 
Unequivocally. 
Unreservedly.



I remember a time in my life when I didn't like fighter-type analogies. Words like battle, struggle, fight, warrior, defender, army, war, weapons...  At church it got so I didn't even want to join in when they sang songs about being the army of God, or fighting the good fight, battling the enemy,  etc.

Anything that smacked of struggle and strife... nope, I'm outta here. 

I just wanted Peace and Quiet. 
I wanted Calm and Nicey-Nice. 
I wanted everything all Happy Happy.



And that's why I ran away from any negative emotions, right into the arms of Food. I was trying to escape the turmoil of the negative. 

Like I mentioned in a recent post, I wasn't taught HOW to deal with the negatives. We didn't talk them out. We weren't taught coping strategies. We got in trouble for crying. We were told to shut up. "Stop crying or I'll give you something to cry about."

So I learned my lesson well. I stuffed my face, instead of facing my stuff. Because I didn't know HOW to deal with it, to process it, to bring about healing.

In the last few years I have learned a lot. That in order to feel GOOD, I must face the bad. I cannot sweep it under the carpet, and then wonder later why I keep tripping over this huge lump under the rug. Problems don't get better by inattention!

I have learned that the peace I sought comes at a cost. My pastor once said a working definition of Peace was this:
Peace is a by-product of things set in order.



I'm not talking about the gift of Peace, from the Prince of Peace... the free gift from God. I AM talking about my responsibility to deal with life in a mature way, not like a spoiled child who wants instant gratification... who wants to just play and have fun and not deal with the tough stuff.

The price for me to "get happy" was to have the courage to face life, to deal with my stuff, and resolve it, not run away from it.

If your home was under attack, would you defend it?

If someone you loved was being assaulted, would you fight for them?

If your child was being dragged off into the bushes by a mountain lion, would you turn into a raging Warrior on their behalf??

Well guess what? My journey to health is finally that important to me! And I will defend it against ALL assaults, from whatever source. 

From negative opinions... from sabotuers... from faulty theories... from my own squirrelly thinking. Even... dare I say it?? Other bloggers who are critical of this kind of terminology, who feel above it, more enlightened, more at-one-with-universe-and-all-the-peaceful-little-bunnies-and-butterflies-and-happy-little-trees... whew!

I am unapologetically a 
Weight Loss Warrior. 

And I fight for my own peace, my own health, my own happy and healthy future. I do this most days with joy, with a smile, with excitement for life right now, and with growing anticipation for what is to come.

I say do what works for you. Do it YOUR way. For me, I can't be passive any more. I can't be wishy-washy or namby-pamby. That got me NO where in the past. 

I had to get FEISTY! I had to be willing to go on the offense, to get spunky!

There is a time for all things. 
There is a time to fight for what is important. 
And this is my time.

On to victory!!



From Dr Phil's book: "Don't be deterred from achieving your weight loss goals just because somebody else is too afraid or unmotivated to go after their own."

My verse for today: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

My quote for today: "The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses--behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights." --Muhammad Ali

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta
=^..^=


16 comments:

MargieAnne said...

You're right.

It's more than being nice to self. It's a battle and battles are never won by spectators.

The neat thing is we are conquerors so we're the winners as well as warriors. I like that.

Sugar Bush Primitives said...

Wow! The line in your post that jumps out at me is the quote from your pastor "Peace is the by-product of things put in order." That is sooooo true in every area of life. If you don't mind, I am lifting that quote for my blog too.

Hugs!
Mary

Anne H said...

In our "battle"
I can't think of anyone I would want
to be in a foxhole with - more than you!
You are a real achiever.
And thanks, too, for the shout-out!

Fat Grump said...

"Well guess what? My journey to health is finally that important to me! And I will defend it against ALL assaults, from whatever source."

Oh well said! I need some of that determination.

A while ago I found a little saying which I think is so true.

'We have to choose either the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. Discipline weighs ounces and regret weighs tons.'

Jules - Big Girl Bombshell said...

I am SO GLAD..you did post this post...I, like you, have had that opinion of warriors, fighting, because I am tired of fighting. But your post gives another perspective in terms of the fight. It comes down to who or what we see as the opponent!

THANK YOU!

WWSuzi said...

So true! We have to fight for ourselves! No one can do it for us but us!!

Anonymous said...

Sometimes looking at what lies under that rug is tiresome, and we want to quit doing that. We try to convince ourselves that we're over-thinking--that we just need to DO.

Well, sometimes that's true, ov course. And at other times, in skipping the search for the answers, all we DO is trip over that big lump you mentioned.

A well-written post.

Deb

'Yellow Rose' Jasmine said...

Loretta- I can almost physically see the changes in your attitude lately. You are as inspirational as you have ever been. You are catching the fire and throwing it back out there to all of us. You are showing what your hard work is doing, even when you don't feel like it. Thank you, thank you so much. So happy for you.

paulawannacracker said...

It's great that your posted this... I'm one of those who has to discuss everything even the ugly. I don't like sweeping things under the rug. They're still there. That's what is great about blogging. It's a way for us to put out there in the universe and guess what? We're not alone in our thoughts. At least that's what I've found out.

You know, I recently used the word "warrior" in one of my posts because I felt I needed to be fierce in my commitment to be active. I promise you that the more you JUST GET IT DONE (exercise)the less it becomes a chore. It becomes something you JUST DO...Does that make sense?

paula

financecupcake said...

My feisty and spunky friend!!! This totally is a fight, a battle, a war! We watched from the sidelines for so long, but now we're taking back what's ours.

Your words about doing the healthy thing even when we don't feel like it just pushed me to run in the morning. I was going to opt out because I'm sleepy, but I know the miles will lift my spirit and help my 5k time this weekend. Thanks for the nudge! :)

This post really hit home for me because I haven't been fighting the fight lately. I'm exercising, but I'm not making a real effort with eating. Thanks for this post, girlfriend. :)

Keep kicking butt!

dailyseeking said...

I always appreciate it when you comment on my blog. Your comments speak to me! Your blog also helps me with my struggles.

Sarah@LowStressWeightLoss said...

I don't feel like a warrior, I feel like a citizen in weight loss world - permanently rooted, settling into the environment.

I respect those people who can feel like it's a battle and keep the battle gear on for a long time, but it's not me...

Anonymous said...

This reminds me of my favorite quote - "If it is to be, it's up to me". We CAN win this battle! :)

Retta said...

SARAH: Thank you, I appreciate your viewpoint. In fact, my hope is that someday I can declare Armistice Day, and join you being just a Citizen. I really like your "low stress" point of view!

Loretta
=^..^=

bbubblyb said...

This was such a powerful post I am SOOOO glad you posted it because I was meant to read it. I have always been the same way don't rock the boat, don't speak my mind, don't defend myself but I too am changing and it's great knowing people like me are right here beside me fighting the fight of THEIR lives too. Peace really is the by product of putting things in order I find that true in every aspect of my life not just weight loss thanks for writing it.

pinkvision said...

This was just what I needed to read today. :) Thank you!

Related Posts with Thumbnails