Day 303 We're All Leaders

Day 303

We're All Leaders

When I refer to myself as “the leader,” I'm of course referring to my role within my family. We're really like a flock of geese flying in formation. When the leader is tired, or not at his best, he drops back and another takes the lead for awhile. When I'm taking a nap and the girls try to wake me up to no avail, but they take the lead and go workout anyway, they're the leaders. I can't tell you how many times I haven't felt like lacing up and hitting the trail, but then the girls insist. Their enthusiasm for this journey is always enough to snap me out of any laziness I might be visiting at the moment. For so many years, I was the leader of a different sort. We lead by example, and my example was a perfect recipe for becoming morbidly obese and dying young. That's where I was leading this family, straight into tragic situations and consequences. To become a responsible leader of this family and share the leading duties with Irene and the girls has been an amazing turn around in our lives. As far as leading others, I don't know if I would call it that. But I do know that I plan on spending the rest of my life sharing my story and trying my best to inspire and motivate people to free themselves from the prison of obesity. And that's the wonderful thing about this journey for all of us. Your success has the power to inspire others, your commitment and consistency will give you the results that may end up providing the inspiration that brings someone to the point of control. The point where they too make the decision to change their lives for the better...to break free, to live. You can't do it for them, although we wish we could, but you can provide the most inspiring success you can and it will spread to others without much effort on your part. When someone thanks me for inspiring them, it sincerely touches me, it further fuels my efforts and success along this road. And then the success that person experiences can and will do the same for others. It's a wonderful circle of inspiration and motivation. It's a powerful thing. We're all leaders—capable of spreading wonderful inspiration.

I received a call today from the owner of the company where I work. He had received a call from a man that desperately needs to lose weight before a critical heart surgery. Someone had told him of this blog and my journey, and he was trying to reach me. I called him tonight and we talked for a little while. We decided that I would visit with him tomorrow at his house. Without sharing his name or any personal details, let me just say this. He is at that critical point where a life or death decision must be made. The doctors have given him little hope for survival, but he's not going to take it. He's going to break free too. He wants to live, or else he would have never made that call today. I'm going to share my story and offer him the best advice I can give---I don't really know what to expect when I meet him tomorrow. But I sincerely hope and pray that it's the beginning of a most dramatic turn around. I believe it certainly can be all of that and more.

We had a wonderful YMCA workout tonight. The treadmill provided all the cardio I needed! On the way in, I noticed someone in the racquetball court who I know has lost over 100 pounds, we haven't been face to face since I started...so it was the first time I've had a chance to see him and him see me. I don't think he recognized me at all. I watched him and his buddies play, and finally I caught his attention, and he gave me a blank look in return for my thumbs up. No, “hey Sean,” no, “wow, I didn't recognize you at first.” He just didn't recognize me period. I knew it was him despite his drastic change, partly because his truck was in the parking lot. Now I'm NOT Mr. Perfect, never claimed to be...But from what I've heard, this gentleman has lost the weight in a very extreme way. He's practically starved himself. A good source informed me that his approach has been one of just a few hundred calories a day. He's such a confident guy, was even before, I would hate to tell him that he's needlessly starving himself. But he is. I guess I'll stop by and congratulate him, he'll see me and realize who I am, then maybe he'll ask me what I've done. I'll tell him and see how he reacts. I have no business giving anyone an unsolicited opinion on what they're doing. I really don't. But if he ask, I'm going to share. And if he confirms what I've heard about the extreme low calorie approach...I'll explain why that's not good. He may not like me. But when I hear someone is starving themselves, it just drives me crazy. It doesn't have to be that way!

I'm feeling really good lately, really good. I'm so excited to be approaching the milestones directly ahead. 200 pounds lost and getting under 300 for the first time since 15 years old is so awesome. I can't wait to experience these...I'm so impatient!!! I want it now!! But it will come, it will come. Thank you for all the wonderful support you give. Thank you for reading. Goodnight and...

Good Choices,
Sean