What's next?

Okay check out this quote I found online:

-One study recently cited in the New York Times asked a group of previously obese people, “Would you rather be fat or blind?” A stunning 89% answered “blind.” As in – can never see again. -

Good God have mercy on our dumb asses! What an insult to blind people. What the hell?

I know that being fat is emotionally hurtful, I have stories to prove it, but for real-you'd rather be blind? This is stunning to me, it really highlights how judgemental we are as a society regarding body shapes.

I believe that women need to take a stand and quit being ruled by what others think of them. Most men think, when they look in the mirror, that they are hot. Women need to get that same mindset. We need to quit comparing ourselves to each other, yes, news flash, women are worse than men in this area, and move on to higher ground.

I have worked hard to get fit and I intend to look upon myself with the notion that I am mighty fine. You may disagree, and that's okay. I don't get my sense of self from you, or Heidi Klum or Paris Hilton.

If we don't get a handle on this issue what could be next-foot binding?

An homage to Miles

Miles Levin died last year after a long courageous battle with cancer. He had just graduated from high school and had his entire life in front of him. But he was never to be able to enjoy it as he lost the battle with cancer. He had an impact on hundreds of thousands of people through his blog on Carepages. I believe that his blog had the ability to change lives and I include one of his frequent quotes here as encouragment to anyone who is facing a challenge in their life.

"STOP STRUGGLING, KEEP FIGHTING" Doesn't that just say it all? It speaks to me at a time in my life where I must surrender so much. I have no control over the economy or the mortgage rates. I can't predict whether or not my car will continue to run well for another year. I can't control whether or not my children will remain healthy.

What I can control are my thoughts. I am going to try in the coming weeks to gently remind myself to stop struggling so much, but not give up the quest, what ever that may be in the moment. I want to float down the river, enjoying the scenery, not waste all my energy doing the front crawl in order to get there first. Life isn't a race, and there are no big prizes for being the best, or being the smartest, fastest or most committed to their jobs.

I want to surrender to a higher power that makes something exquisite out of what appears to be chaos. I want to quit looking for the fairy tale and enjoy the story I am already in.

I will keep fighting in my life to control my weight, to appreciate myself as I am, to maintain some boundaries with work so that it doesn't consume my life, and to try to allow the flow of what is.

Miles, where ever you are my dear, thank you for this wisdom. I only wish you had lived long enough to see the outcome of your words.