Post by annette on Oct 13, 2013 0:50:14 GMT -8
The direction I choose will be filled with healthy choices, living life, feeling empowered & happiness!
On August 3, 2011 I stood at a crossroad, on the verge of choosing a different path. That was the first time I took my daughter, Livvy, to meet her favorite boy band (you know the one I'm talking about). She could think of nothing else in the days leading up to that moment! But as we stood in line to say hi to those 4 boys, I got a phone call from one of my siblings... my mother had passed away! Being the youngest of 8 kids, I was definitely a "momma's girl". I was distraught that I was 3 hours away when my mother slipped out of my life. I grew up on an organic farm in southeastern Ohio. Health & fitness were tops on my priority list, but somewhere along the road I had given up on taking care of myself & my needs fell somewhere on the bottom of that list. For years I felt invisible, people would look through me & not make eye contact. I felt ugly & not important. Besides going to work, I rarely left my house. I was becoming depressed and missing out on enjoying my family.
Back to that life-changing night... as I stood there with tears in my eyes & a heavy heart, I had a decision to make. To stay & be a "good mom" or to leave & be a "good daughter"! Something inside me said STAY. So we stayed! But I attempted to blend into the background & watch my daughter meet her idols from a safe distance. After all, I was a good 20+ years older than most of the people in that room & I was sure not a single member of the group wanted to meet me. But one of the 4 (the tall, blond one) looked straight into my eyes, broke out of line, walked across the stage, & put his arm around me! I couldn't believe someone actually took a moment to make me feel as if I mattered! It had been a LONG time since that had happened! I watched my daughter watch the show & I was so happy to see her so happy! A mother's greatest joy is the happiness of her children! I watched the show through tears of grief & tears of joy. I felt alive again. I knew this would've made my mom happy. And when I feel people don't understand how I could have stayed at a concert after learning of my mother's passing, I know it was her "voice" I heard urging me to stay. The day after the show, I went home to say goodbye to my mom & to say hello to myself again. Within 3 months I had shed 30 pounds, I started working out everyday and I recommitted to organic, clean-eating habits. And then when I needed a little motivation to keep it going, "Mama Schmidt" tweeted about Choose180. I felt like it was meant to be! I've worn my dog tag on a choker around my neck every single day since it arrived in the mail. The leather is rubbed smooth on the back but I never leave home without it! Since that 1st time, Livvy & I have taken to the road on numerous adventures to see those boys in faraway places such as LA, Vegas, Arizona, NY & Chicago! They inspire us to live life!
It's been a couple of years since that life-changing night back in 2011 & I've gotten a little off course & I need to adjust my direction. Today I choose to recommit to keeping joy in my life & making myself a priority & the Choose 180 Challenge is a perfect opportunity. Thank you!
On August 3, 2011 I stood at a crossroad, on the verge of choosing a different path. That was the first time I took my daughter, Livvy, to meet her favorite boy band (you know the one I'm talking about). She could think of nothing else in the days leading up to that moment! But as we stood in line to say hi to those 4 boys, I got a phone call from one of my siblings... my mother had passed away! Being the youngest of 8 kids, I was definitely a "momma's girl". I was distraught that I was 3 hours away when my mother slipped out of my life. I grew up on an organic farm in southeastern Ohio. Health & fitness were tops on my priority list, but somewhere along the road I had given up on taking care of myself & my needs fell somewhere on the bottom of that list. For years I felt invisible, people would look through me & not make eye contact. I felt ugly & not important. Besides going to work, I rarely left my house. I was becoming depressed and missing out on enjoying my family.
Back to that life-changing night... as I stood there with tears in my eyes & a heavy heart, I had a decision to make. To stay & be a "good mom" or to leave & be a "good daughter"! Something inside me said STAY. So we stayed! But I attempted to blend into the background & watch my daughter meet her idols from a safe distance. After all, I was a good 20+ years older than most of the people in that room & I was sure not a single member of the group wanted to meet me. But one of the 4 (the tall, blond one) looked straight into my eyes, broke out of line, walked across the stage, & put his arm around me! I couldn't believe someone actually took a moment to make me feel as if I mattered! It had been a LONG time since that had happened! I watched my daughter watch the show & I was so happy to see her so happy! A mother's greatest joy is the happiness of her children! I watched the show through tears of grief & tears of joy. I felt alive again. I knew this would've made my mom happy. And when I feel people don't understand how I could have stayed at a concert after learning of my mother's passing, I know it was her "voice" I heard urging me to stay. The day after the show, I went home to say goodbye to my mom & to say hello to myself again. Within 3 months I had shed 30 pounds, I started working out everyday and I recommitted to organic, clean-eating habits. And then when I needed a little motivation to keep it going, "Mama Schmidt" tweeted about Choose180. I felt like it was meant to be! I've worn my dog tag on a choker around my neck every single day since it arrived in the mail. The leather is rubbed smooth on the back but I never leave home without it! Since that 1st time, Livvy & I have taken to the road on numerous adventures to see those boys in faraway places such as LA, Vegas, Arizona, NY & Chicago! They inspire us to live life!
It's been a couple of years since that life-changing night back in 2011 & I've gotten a little off course & I need to adjust my direction. Today I choose to recommit to keeping joy in my life & making myself a priority & the Choose 180 Challenge is a perfect opportunity. Thank you!
? Your story inspired me. Thank you for sharing.