Entertaining - I hope - reflection of the past year
I was fortunate enough to be able to share my story in front of LIVE people at the Barix meeting two weeks ago and decided that I would post it here and add a few things that I forgot to add then. This is most likely long, I am a teacher and DO LOVE TO TALK - however, I also hope that this is funny and entertaining to those of you reading.
Today is my surgiversary date, March 31. Here is the quick story – I was at my very first support group meeting – the Third Wednesday in March, My surgery was already scheduled for April 1. April Fools’ day – those who know me well know that that was a PERFECT day for me to change my life for the better. It was a few days before Spring Break – I would only need to take a few days off and then back to work after the break. Well, I get a phone call telling me that some changes to the schedule needed to be made and that they needed to push my surgery up to March 31. No big deal you would think, well, March 31 is my mom’s birthday. I lost my mom to cancer 18 months earlier and when I originally talked with her about this surgery she was against it. So here I was not only doing it without her consent, but to be doing it on her birthday which I thought was always going to be a difficult day for me! I obviously went through with the surgery and my extended family advised me that March 31 was a GREAT day for our family and therefore would continue to be.
A few months later I met a woman who, as it turned out, knew me from High School. We became friends again and started swimming together. As we were discussing my surgery and her upcoming surgery she started telling me a story about when she was originally supposed to have her surgery….Yep – March 31. For various reasons her surgery was postponed and because of that I was pushed forward. Beth (bvohl - here on the boards!)– thank you for being my friend and for helping me to realize that my surgery was SUPPOSED to be on my mom’s birthday.
At my son’s Bar Mitzvah two years ago – I was allowed to speak to him in front of the entire congregation and say whatever I wanted to say, (I am NOT sure what the Rabbi's were thinking and I have later found out that they were VERY nervous!). I thought about it for a VERY long time and the only things I could think to say was to thank him for allowing me to be and do so many different things. So now I am looking back on my last year and have been thinking about what I was going to say and Thank you is just the beginning.
As many of you know I am a Philadelphia Public School teacher. And while I love EVERY minute – well, most minutes, of it – I realize that what I enjoy most about my job is what the kids TEACH to me. So I thought that that is what my last year has been about, my becoming an active learner on this journey. Here are some of the things that I learned over the last year.
Larry will always be beside me – as my best friend, partner and of course, chef!
Joshua, Molly and Emily love me unconditionally and I learned that I need to give that back to them by being the healthiest I can be for them! I have also learned that they are GREAT food police!
I have learned that you can never be sure about people, those who are skinny may have lost a ton of weight even thought I don’t believe they were ever heavy to begin with. (This was directed at Pam who I met at my first support gropu meeting and was shocked to know thatshe was EVER overweight!)
I have learned that getting dressed can be fun!
I have learned that boasting to people who “get it" is not only OK it is encouraged!
I have learned the true meaning of addiction and recovery.
I have learned that recovery has its ups and downs.
I have learned that friends are not only the people you meet face-to-face , in this case it DEFINTELY includes virtual friends!
I have learned that eating fish WONT kill me.
I have learned that NOT eating a cheesesteak – wont kill me!
I have learned that I CAN turn on a crock-pot – and I even learned what a crock-pot is!
I have learned that I can bend
I have learned that I do have a lap
I have learned to wear gloves – it seems as I got smaller, my Hand warmers, aka, stomache, disappeared.
I have learned that my humor, silliness and obnixiousness was NOT in my belly! Go figure!
I have learned that Knee-High boots are my friends – as is fear!
I have learned to never underestimate the power of a really good undergarment!
However, the most important thing that I have learned this year – and I think I knew it all along, was the I CAN NOT DO THIS ALONE!!!!!
Thank you to all of you for your friendship, support, love and mostly for laughing at my stupid jokes! Thanks to those of you who have come before me to lead me in the right direction and for those of you who came after me for asking the questions that I either never thought to ask or forgot about along this journey!
There are good days, bad days and all kinds of days in between. I am by no means perfect, and therefore will continue to take each day as it comes. I will continue to check in with you all regularly, whether you like it or not! :) I feel my mom has helped me along this journey and in the end was thrilled that I chose to improve my health for my children, my husband, my students and mosty for MYSELF! And although I know that I am the one who needs to be the most proud, knowing that she is there helping me along the way makes this day about as perfect as it can be!
Today is my surgiversary date, March 31. Here is the quick story – I was at my very first support group meeting – the Third Wednesday in March, My surgery was already scheduled for April 1. April Fools’ day – those who know me well know that that was a PERFECT day for me to change my life for the better. It was a few days before Spring Break – I would only need to take a few days off and then back to work after the break. Well, I get a phone call telling me that some changes to the schedule needed to be made and that they needed to push my surgery up to March 31. No big deal you would think, well, March 31 is my mom’s birthday. I lost my mom to cancer 18 months earlier and when I originally talked with her about this surgery she was against it. So here I was not only doing it without her consent, but to be doing it on her birthday which I thought was always going to be a difficult day for me! I obviously went through with the surgery and my extended family advised me that March 31 was a GREAT day for our family and therefore would continue to be.
A few months later I met a woman who, as it turned out, knew me from High School. We became friends again and started swimming together. As we were discussing my surgery and her upcoming surgery she started telling me a story about when she was originally supposed to have her surgery….Yep – March 31. For various reasons her surgery was postponed and because of that I was pushed forward. Beth (bvohl - here on the boards!)– thank you for being my friend and for helping me to realize that my surgery was SUPPOSED to be on my mom’s birthday.
At my son’s Bar Mitzvah two years ago – I was allowed to speak to him in front of the entire congregation and say whatever I wanted to say, (I am NOT sure what the Rabbi's were thinking and I have later found out that they were VERY nervous!). I thought about it for a VERY long time and the only things I could think to say was to thank him for allowing me to be and do so many different things. So now I am looking back on my last year and have been thinking about what I was going to say and Thank you is just the beginning.
As many of you know I am a Philadelphia Public School teacher. And while I love EVERY minute – well, most minutes, of it – I realize that what I enjoy most about my job is what the kids TEACH to me. So I thought that that is what my last year has been about, my becoming an active learner on this journey. Here are some of the things that I learned over the last year.
Larry will always be beside me – as my best friend, partner and of course, chef!
Joshua, Molly and Emily love me unconditionally and I learned that I need to give that back to them by being the healthiest I can be for them! I have also learned that they are GREAT food police!
I have learned that you can never be sure about people, those who are skinny may have lost a ton of weight even thought I don’t believe they were ever heavy to begin with. (This was directed at Pam who I met at my first support gropu meeting and was shocked to know thatshe was EVER overweight!)
I have learned that getting dressed can be fun!
I have learned that boasting to people who “get it" is not only OK it is encouraged!
I have learned the true meaning of addiction and recovery.
I have learned that recovery has its ups and downs.
I have learned that friends are not only the people you meet face-to-face , in this case it DEFINTELY includes virtual friends!
I have learned that eating fish WONT kill me.
I have learned that NOT eating a cheesesteak – wont kill me!
I have learned that I CAN turn on a crock-pot – and I even learned what a crock-pot is!
I have learned that I can bend
I have learned that I do have a lap
I have learned to wear gloves – it seems as I got smaller, my Hand warmers, aka, stomache, disappeared.
I have learned that my humor, silliness and obnixiousness was NOT in my belly! Go figure!
I have learned that Knee-High boots are my friends – as is fear!
I have learned to never underestimate the power of a really good undergarment!
However, the most important thing that I have learned this year – and I think I knew it all along, was the I CAN NOT DO THIS ALONE!!!!!
Thank you to all of you for your friendship, support, love and mostly for laughing at my stupid jokes! Thanks to those of you who have come before me to lead me in the right direction and for those of you who came after me for asking the questions that I either never thought to ask or forgot about along this journey!
There are good days, bad days and all kinds of days in between. I am by no means perfect, and therefore will continue to take each day as it comes. I will continue to check in with you all regularly, whether you like it or not! :) I feel my mom has helped me along this journey and in the end was thrilled that I chose to improve my health for my children, my husband, my students and mosty for MYSELF! And although I know that I am the one who needs to be the most proud, knowing that she is there helping me along the way makes this day about as perfect as it can be!
Steffi. I wish I could have been at Barix when you shared your story. But, I am glad that you are sharing it with the rest of us. There is not much else I can say to you. You are doing fantastic and I am so proud of you. I love you and am so glad that we have found each other through this journey!!!
My tracker
hers 
Steffi,
This brought tears to my eyes! God bless you.
My grandmoms bday is March 31st, she passed while I was showering to leave for surgery.Strange because nothing would make her happier than to see me thin. I personally will enjoy thin but know I will be much more healthy.
If anyone asks me to desvribe any of this journey the one thing that stays consistant is that it is different every day! Happy Surgiversary
This brought tears to my eyes! God bless you.
My grandmoms bday is March 31st, she passed while I was showering to leave for surgery.Strange because nothing would make her happier than to see me thin. I personally will enjoy thin but know I will be much more healthy.
If anyone asks me to desvribe any of this journey the one thing that stays consistant is that it is different every day! Happy Surgiversary
Lynn
HW-237/SW-225.8/GW-130
Most Active
Recent Topics
