The Sweet Life

So, as mentioned, a couple of months ago, I had a health scare.  Not to bore anyone with the details, but bottom line is that it actually ended with me in the ER, having a full-on panic attack which caused my blood pressure to sky-rocket. 

Now, with a couple of months' perspective on the incident, I realize that I probably brought the panic attack onto myself because I knew that my eating habits and lack of physical activity were not healthy.  I can also tell you now that although I knew I was not making healthy choices, I also don't think I really knew how to stop making the poor choices and begin making good choices.  I, as so many of us have, have gained and lost hundreds of pounds over the course of my lifetime...and I have to say, I do think it is a shame that it took such a major incident in my life to make me change paths...however, I am so thankful that it did! Because no sooner had I been released from the hospital (they kept me overnight) than I immediately began making healthier choices and I began walking this path to a healthier me.  I am so fortunate to find myself surrounded with wonderful friends and family who shared their knowledge with me on making better choices on food and physical activity...and as the time has progressed, I have very consciously and deliberately continued to build a community of individuals who can support & guide me on this path to optimal health...and who will hopefully stick with me so that I can then maintain said health!

However, here's what I really want to share: as I was laying there, in that ER, I really thought that something was terribly wrong with me...and I couldn't get past the thought that I might  not see my precious babies or Ron ever again...and here's what got me (note: this is my "a-ha moment" in a nutshell)... The only reason that I was laying in that Emergency Room was because of what I had put in my mouth for the past 20+ years...Seriously?! Seriously! And, really: what on earth could or would taste as good as me seeing my precious children grow up and raise families of their own...what on earth could taste as good as me being allowed the privilege of growing old with Ron? And the resounding, undeniable answer:  NOTHING.  Not a darn thing.  And that was it - It was almost like an audible click.  From that minute on, I truly have not had any desire to eat or put anything in my body that is not healthy.  There is no trick to it...and I'm certainly not the Queen of Willpower...far from it! It was just that, for me, in that moment, I had finally found something that mattered more to me than that delicious first bite of a warm, homemade chocolate chip cookie fresh from the oven:  MY FAMILY. 

But, with all that said, I also want to clarify: for the first time in my life, I am NOT losing this weight for my family. Not for my children, my husband or my other family.  I am losing this weight for ME.  For ME, because I want to see my three children grow into the fine, upstanding individuals that I know I am raising.  I want to meet those sweet grand-babies that I just know I'm meant to meet one day...and I want to enjoy this beautiful, sweet life that I have been so blessed with. 

So, here's to the sweet life...and to the things in this life that make it so. 

What about you...what are the sweet things in YOUR life?