The Ripple Effect

Those of you who know me personally know that I have recently taken a position with a midwifery birthing center near where I live.  They not only perform obstetrics services but routine gynecological services too.   I get to talk to some pretty cool people in my normal daily routine.  One young lady stuck out this week, mostly because I can relate to what she is presently going through.

We're going to call my new friend Chelsea (not her real name).  Chelsea came into the office for her annual gynecological visit.  We were chatting a little while she was waiting because we had to reschedule her from the week before and I knew that she was graduating from college and had a lot of stuff going on in her life.  I asked her if she had decided what to do after graduating, like grad school and where she was going to attend, for instance.   In her relating of her story she told me that she had to stay local because her mother was dying from cancer and she had to be close enough that she could drive home if need be.  She was waiting for a call that day from the hospice that was going to be taking care of her mother from that point on.  

Talk about a wake-up smack in the face.  This girl in front of me was 21 years old.  I started tearing up because of what I lived through when I was 18.  It took a great deal of control NOT to cry in front of her.  (In fact I'm crying while writing this.)  I told her a little about what I went through and gave her my number saying, "if you need someone to talk to who understands, please don't hesitate to call me."  

This girl is 3 months older than my son.  I started thinking that if I didn't make the decision I made on May 7, 2005 to take my life back and get my health and weight under control, would my son be in the same position as this beautiful young lady sitting in front of me?  Would my son be dealing with the end of my life?  How would my not being here for him affect the happenings in his life?  Would he be as happy and thriving as his is now with a wonderful girlfriend, going to school for a career he was meant for with a hopeful and positive outlook on his future?  What if I was selfish and chose to wallow in my self-pity and self-loathing and destructive habits?  Would he be miserable and depressed and not striving for a better existence?

These are just some of the things swirling around in my head for the last 2 days.  The decisions we make regarding our health, weight and wellness are extremely personal but have a much further reach via ripple effect.  If I didn't change not only would it have greatly affected my son's life, I wouldn't have written this blog; I wouldn't have been able to help my clients achieve their successes; I would be a part of a martial arts school that for me is like the community of a church group, I wouldn’t have joined my ladies networking group and met so many wonderful, inspiring women, etc.  So many things would have been affected and different in my life if I had made a different decision.  

Making the decision to take care of yourself, lose weight and gain better health is selfish and generous at the same time.  You need to do it for you so that you can be there for those that matter in your life.  You need to be there to change the world, even if that’s the world of only one person.  Who know what that one person can accomplish because of what you’ve done for them?  And so on and so on . . . The ripple effect is far and wide reaching and so many things can be better or worse based on only one decision.  Make the right one and start the process.  You’ll never know how many people whose lives it will affect.

If you are on the fence about changing your lifestyle into a healthier one that includes losing weight and changing your mindset, find your trigger that will drive you to success.  Food and exercise are the EASY parts.  Be diligent and those will take care of themselves.  It's your change of mindset that will ensure your success.  You need to decide once and for all and stick to your guns.  I decided that I wasn't leaving my son early because I KNEW first-hand how it felt and what it would do to him.  I've stuck to it for over 9 years and have no plans of changing that.  Best decision I've ever made.  

Originally I made the decision to live and be there for my son.  This lead to joining my martial arts school; where I am helping others thrive and have made many close friends; which empowered me with the confidence  to start my business to help others; which lead me to join a networking group that caused a meeting the lead me to the position at the birthing center which introduced me to Chelsea.  Ripple effect – who will your decisions affect?

You need to choose and then act on your decision.  If you need help figuring it out, I'm here to help you.  Let my personal experience which has driven me so far and for so long HELP you do the same.  You don't have to wallow anymore.  We were meant to prosper and grow and thrive from this life.  You just have to decide how bad you want it and then do something about it.