That’s what friends are for!

 “Friends are angels that lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly”

As a morbidly obese person, I am used to have people rushing ahead of me no matter where I go, not making eye contact, or not smiling back when they passed me. No man has ever hold the door open for me except my husband and I am used to have people look at me like I am some weird creature from out of this world. These behaviors are normal to me, sad but true. The world is a dark and lonely place when you are morbidly obese.

 Four years ago my world change drastically when I lost nearly 200 pounds. But this change was made possible with the help of beautiful people that I met along this journey.

 Four years ago I joined Weight Watchers. I had decided to change my life for good. I remember my first WW meeting; I didn't know anyone and I felt like a child going to kindergarten for the very first time. My first experience attending this meeting was horrible. I swore I would never go back. But I met a wonderful lady that was sitting in the back of the room that embraced me and became my friend the minute she said hello. Her name is Linda and we have become the best of friends. She was one of the reasons why I continue to keep going to the meetings. She started to show to the meeting each week with gifts.

 Card, pictures and poem from Linda.

 One week was a bag of fresh vegetables from her farm; the next week was a beautiful card, a lotion for my tire feet, a necklace to make me feel pretty and so on. Every week there was something from her to make me feel special. Not because I was losing weight but simply to remind me how special I was. I remember when I got to my 100 pound loss, she cried with me sharing my happiness and sadness since my puppy had just passed away unexpectedly four days prior to my 100 pound loss. Linda has become a friend for life. After moving  to Utah, she continue to think of me with cards, gifts telephone calls, texts and emails and words of encouragement.  She is a beautiful soul that continues to care for me asking for nothing in return. Few weeks ago we spoke on the phone and she knew of all the difficulties I have had with my weight and personal life.  I told her “I have let so many people down!” she told me “No Marjorie you have let yourself down!”

 Thank you Linda!

She is right. At the end of the day I don’t answer to anyone and I was not doing this for anyone but myself. Few days after our telephone conversation I received a card in the mail with pictures and a poem. What an amazing friend she is!  Even though she is a very busy wife, mother and grandmother she has always taken the time to let me know that “I matter” I will be forever grateful to her.

I have met a lot of wonderful people along my weight loss journey but no one so dedicated to me, like Linda has been!   I have always said that actions  speak louder than words!

Thanks Linda for being such an amazing friend!

   We can all be a friend like Linda!

 Until next time. Be kind to yourself!!