LOOK AT THIS PRIVATE MESSAGE!!!

Jealousy is so ugly. You have worked so hard. Here's piece of advice for all: NEVER and I mean NEVER apologize to someone else for your success. You have created your success from opportunity and planning, not luck. You have re-created yourself in this journey. That's all I need to say. Erin, you're a doll and I enjoy seeing your pics. Keep it up. Hugs, -Laura

I JUST POSTED AN ANSWER ON THE SC BOARD TO A YOUNG LADY WHO WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF SHE SHOULD TELL HER RELATIVES THAT SHE WAS HAVING WLS BECAUSE THEY WERE ALWAYS SAYING MEAN THINGS BEHIND HER BACK & SHE DIDN'T WANT THEM TO DO THAT ABOUT HER SURGERY ... THE FUNNY THING IS THAT I TOLD HER, THIS HAPPENS FAT OR THIN & HERE YOU ARE, MS ERIN, BEING FLAMED FOR BEING THIN & PROUD OF IT ... THIS IS WHAT I POSTED ABOUT MEAN PEOPLE ... I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE BEST ADVICE ON THIS SUBJECT THAT YOU CAN USE IN ANY SITUATION OF YOUR LIFE, MS JAMIE. NOT THAT I AM ALL THAT SMART, BUT NICK & I HAVE MADE EVERY MISTAKE THERE IS TO MAKE & JUST NOW, IN MY 50s & NICK'S 60s, WE ARE FINALLY GETTING OUR FEET UNDER US. MAKE YOUR DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT YOU KNOW IS RIGHT FOR YOU ... TAKE THE GOOD COUNSEL OF OTHERS WHO HAVE YOUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART, BUT DO NOT, NOT, NOT GIVE ANY IMPORTANCE TO THOSE PEOPLE & THEIR OPINIONS WHO CAUSE DISTRESS IN YOUR LIFE, TRY TO CONTROL OR MANIPULATE YOU, OR TREAT YOU ABUSIVELY OR WITH DISRESPECT. IN THIS SITUATION LIKE IN OTHERS IN YOUR LIFE, DO WHAT YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT DOING. IF YOU WANT TO SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOF TOPS THAT YOU'RE HAVING GASTRIC BYPASS, DO IT NO MATTER WHAT REACTION YOU'LL GET FROM YOUR MEAN-SPIRITED RELATIVES. DO IT JUST BECAUSE IT FEELS GOOD TO YOU. IF YOU WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE JUST TELLING A FEW CLOSE FRIENDS & RELATIVES, THEN DO THAT. THE POINT IS THAT MEAN PEOPLE WILL FIND SOMETHING MEAN TO SAY OR DO NO MATTER WHAT YOUR DECISION IS. IF YOU TELL THEM, THEY'LL FIND SOMETHING HURTFUL TO SAY ... IF YOU DON'T TELL THEM, THEY'LL FIND SOMETHING HURTFUL ... IF YOU LOSE 100 #s IN 6 MONTHS, THEY'LL FIND SOMETHING HURTFUL TO SAY ... IF YOU LOSE 25 #s IN 6 MONTHS, THEY'LL FIND SOMETHING HURTFUL TO SAY ... SOOOOOOOOOOO, DON'T ALLOW PEOPLE LIKE THAT TO STEAL YOUR JOY & YOUR LIFE'S EXPERIENCES OTHERWISE YOU ARE THE ONE LOSING OUT & YOUR DESERVE BETTER! THEY AREN'T MEAN BECAUSE YOU ARE HEAVY ... THEY ARE MEAN BECAUSE THEY CHOOSE TO BE MEAN. WE ALL HAVE PAIN IN OUR LIVES THAT WE COULD USE AS EXCUSES TO HURT OTHERS, BUT MOST PEOPLE TAKE THE HIGH ROAD & ACT TOWARDS OTHERS WITH CIVILITY & RESPECT. BUT, THOSE WHO EXCUSE THEMSELVES FROM DOING WHAT IS RIGHT WILL FIND ANY "REASON" TO BE MEAN. IF YOU'RE FAT, THEY'LL HURT YOU. IF YOU LOSE THE WEIGHT, THEY'LL HURT YOU. IF YOU LOOSE IT QUICKLY ... SLOWLY ... IT DOESN'T MATTER. THE DAMANGE IS IN THEM & INSTEAD OF FACING THEIR OWN DEMONS, THEIR OWN ISSUES, THEY STRIKE OUT IN CRUELTY AGAINST OTHERS THEY ENVY. REMEMBER, MEAN PEOPLE WILL ONLY BE AS MEAN AS YOU ALLOW THEM TO BE TO YOU. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO LIVE YOUR LIFE JOYFULLY IN SPITE OF CRUEL PEOPLE & YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY, "THIS FAR & NO FURTHER"! SO GIRL ... YOU DO EXACTLY WHAT WILL BRING YOU JOY & EXCITEMENT & SELF WORTH & DON'T LET ANYONE TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICk