Personal Heroes

Personal Heroes

 

I would guess that most people have at least one personal hero…someone in your life who has supported you, literally through thick and thin, and whom you admire for what they have chosen to do with themselves.  One of those people for me is my younger brother, Randall.  He was born with health problems and experienced a few more of those as he went through his teen years and early twenties, enduring the full and cruel brunt of his fellow adolescents’ taunts, yet he persevered and became an accomplished scholar and public speaker.  He eventually earned his doctorate and is now a professor and administrator at a prestigious University in London.  He lives so far away because he chose to marry for love.  I admire him for all of those things, yet it is something more that makes him one of my personal heroes.

 

In the years before I considered weight loss surgery, I was in the throes of that vicious cycle of weight loss, weight gain, depression and self-loathing that may be familiar to some of you.  At one particularly low point I asked him bluntly what he really thought of me as a person.  I was afraid of his answer. I cynically expected platitudes and bull****; what I got was a message of love and encouragement.  It was a turning point for me, one that led me to work through some of my mental health issues and gave me the strength to pursue weight loss surgery.   He has supported my WLS decision since Day One, without judgment or a single negative comment.  I owe him so much, yet I haven’t seen him since last Thanksgiving and my gratitude to him has had no outlet.  He flies in to town tonight.  I plan to give him a big, manly hug.

 

Who are your personal heroes?

 

RP

That's awesome.  It reminds me to make sure to let those supportive people around me know that I appreciate them.  Thanks for the reminder!

For me it's my older sister.  She has been there since day one (quite literally) as well.  If I have a question about parenting or relationships or weight loss or anything along that line she is there to listen and offer advice. 

Thanks for the reminder that I should really let her know what she means to me.

Have fun with your brother-how exciting to be able to see him again!

Sam