LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY, PASSIONATELY!

This is the true secret, my dear friends. I truly have learned to substitute negative emotional eating with positive emotional LIVING! I thank God every day for being given this second chance. Find what makes your heart beat faster, what makes you laugh outloud with joyful wonder, and then just DO IT! Some of you know from my SG talks that I have recently purchased a horse and am taking my riding very seriously -- at the "young" age of 51!  I've posted a picture of Laela on my profile page, check her out!  All my energy and love is going to this remarkable animal, I have precious little time for twinkies these days!!!! I wish for you all to find your own unique unbridled happiness. Check Laela out!  My love to all, Maureen

You are so right my friend..... The joy we get from life, the energy we get from feeling passionately about what we do...That is the secret to living a successfull post-op life... Finding what makes you feel that way, and pursuing it!!!! There is great power in that. I love hearing about you and your horse.. That sounds so FUN! For me it took a different route.  I pursued a job that I considered "way out of my league"...and got it! Only to discover that not only was it not way out of my league, but was actually "right up my alley"..lol the perfect job, where I look forward to going to work and get excited about what I do. I never would have had the confidence to go for it pre-op..... Now things are different. From the way I start my mornings....... I like to go for a long 1 hour walk as often as I can, I love listening to the birds and breathing the fresh morning air...It clears my head, and makes me happy...a great start to my day... I still sometimes let things get in the way, like anyone else...but I find that if I make the time for myself in the mornings, wake up an hour early just to have that "perfect moment", it makes so much difference... Also, during the day, wheneven I can, I eat a small meal at my desk, and spend my lunchhour walking.. My attitude today is so much better...I have a positive outlook on life, and I LIKE MYSELF.... Something I could never say honestly before. It makes a difference in how I deal with my family too.... My kids are happier when I am happy........ Life is good. The moral of the story..... Take chances, go out of your comfort zone, and LIVE!!! I didn't have my surgery to live the same life....I took it as a chance to live the life that I was meant to live. Maureen.....thank you for reminding me........

Hi Dorota, It's SO great to see you posting, again!  Will you be at the walk on Sunday? So, a new job...did you leave DCFS?  What are you doing now?  Good for you, girlfriend! Your post was very inspiring.   Thank You Paula

Oh, I love this, Dorota! I'm right there with you on all of this - and I LOVE reading your posts, have missed seeing you, both in print and at the SG meetings! Maureen

Thanks for sharing this is awesome and why I want to have the surgery...  definitly looking for a better, brighter, healthier future for myself and my family!   You both look AWESOME! and sooooo happy its well GOD SENT! and so wonderful...   I'm hoping to go out today to get a camera, I can't find the darn cords for my little digital and want to make sure I take a picture of myself now so that in the future I can reflect back and not let myself fall down into that path again... I look forward to joining you all on the losers bench and living a healthier and more fruitful life... BTW Laela is sooo beautiful. I love horses, always have but never ever dream of being able to ride one... hmm... perhaps something I should right down for a goal post op for myself...  ;).... never know...  You two are doing so awesome.. thanks for sharing....

Knowing what you want out of this and then pursuing your dreams with great energy is more than half the battle! You deserve this and with your determination, you will get all that your desire. Be well, Maureen

Hi Maureen, WOW, what a beautiful horse.  I don't think I've ever been on a horse as an adult.  They are so pretty, and graceful.  My daughter loves them and we stop to look at them whenever we see one in a field.  Cudos to you, my friend, for taking up something that you've always dreamed of doing! Cute pun...."I wish for you all to find your own unique unbridled happiness!!! Friday is my 2nd surgiversary and I need to find that "niche" or something that will give me a WOW feeling.  I'm feeling great about my weight loss, but not WOW about life.  I'm too sedentary, I think.  Kids are in school all day, hubby at work, me at home bored.  I'm disabled with panic attacks, so I can't find it in a career, it doesn't work for me.  It's fear that's keeping me back, and I'm wasting time.  Tuesday I'll be 44...time to get the second half of my life going! Well, I did ride my son's scooter all the way home from the bus stop last week!  That was fun...a sight for the nieghbors, I'm sure...two women walking by just looked at me, but I didn't care!  Little do they know that two years ago I would have broken the thing!!!!!!!!! Great day to all! Paula

I LOVE the scooter story! Now, next time - challenge yourself to whoop it up, I don't care who is wathcing you! Laugh out loud until your sides aches, make a spectacle of your new, beautiful, wonderful self! And you and your daughter can come visit me and Laela ANY time, Paula!!! Go for it, girlfriend, whatever makes you dizzy with happiness...Maureen