Welcome To Day One of My Blog!

It is interesting to me that I should start my online blog on my son's 18th birthday, during a worldwide pandemic, two days before my second anniversary of being diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes. But, here I am, week two of a stay-at-home order, not being able to go back to work at my children's center until at least May.  Sigh.

In watching YouTube, the news, QVC, and other media, (which I'm doing a lot more of these days), I am quickly realizing a common theme.  In this new way of higher-than-normal stressful and unconventional living, people are beginning to tend towards either one of two ways.  Either really focusing on their self-care, getting disciplined about their eating and exercise habits (meal-planning, et. al), or going the complete opposite direction of letting themselves totally go.  Eating and drinking to excess, maybe beginning to experiment with unhealthy outlets (drugs, etc.). The new stressors of online remote-learning, being in close contact with family members in small quarters, being uprooted from dorms and finding themselves all of a sudden to have to abide by different, possibly more stringent rules in the household-these can cause havoc in many aspects or people's lives.  There is even the fear of more and more domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault cases not being accounted for. Frightening.

So, I figure, this would be a good time to tell my story.  How hard work and discipline CAN AND DOES pay off.  I had to hit rock-bottom to change my life, but maybe you don't have to.  Maybe a stay-at-home order is an advantageous time to really look at your self-care.  What can be improved upon?  What is working for you?  What is not working for you and should be let go of completely?  Do you need to seek out professional help?

I am planning on writing this blog weekly, but maybe more at first, since I have more time to devote to it right now.  I am not the most eloquent writer.  This blog may feel kind of like journal entries to you,  so bear with me.  I am not seeking profit or monetary gain from this project.  I just truly feel, in my heart or hearts, that these last two years have been a time of incredible growth for me in all areas-physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.   I feel there is a higher purpose to what I have experienced.  I believe, if I can inspire just ONE PERSON, then all I have gone though and all that I have accomplished was worth it.

So, join me in my journey, won't you?

Here are two pictures for you to see. The bottom one taken in 2000, at my highest weight of 339 pounds. The top one was taken a couple of weeks ago, at the weight of 154.

Until next time...stay well!

Be a butterfly...🦋