It's October 22 and ten years ago today the King and I went on our first date. I knew on our first date that he was the one. You could say I had my lightbulb moment.
Over the years he has taught me so much about the woman I want to be and the woman I am. Without him I don't think I would have ever lost my weight.
You see, I really believe you have to change how you think along with or BEFORE you ever lose weight. I'm not talking about someone who wants to lose a few pounds for an event. Sure, you can stick to something long enough to get short term results.
What I mean is those of us who struggle (and I still struggle so present tense in emphasized) with weight. We look for reasons to eat. We find stuff to keep us busy so we don't exercise. Our health is so bad (low thyroid) that losing weight is just "harder" for us, etc.
What Chris did for me is be that positive influence in life I was missing. Many women I have worked with all have the same issue; they see the bad before they see the good. Some can't even see the good.
- I see a problem; he sees a challenge.
- I list the reasons it can't happen; he immediately thinks of everything we have to make it work.
- I worry about what I do wrong; he thinks constantly about how to do things better.
- I am "super" busy with a long list of things to do but most aren't important; he focuses on a VERY few important things and let's the busy work go - he is rarely heard discussing how busy he is (yet he has to be the most productive person I know).
His living a life that is focused on being happy, doing what's important, and educating himself on what matters changed how I see the world. When I finally started thinking I could do things, magically I started making what was important to me happen.
I went from laying on the couch to walking. Just because I had a baby and weighed 250lbs didn't mean I couldn't take a walk everyday.
I had over 100lbs to lose and it seemed impossible, but that didn't mean 10lbs would make me feel better.
I "thought" I didn't like a lot of foods. Just because I didn't like sweet potatoes back then didn't mean I couldn't have a white potato over chips.
A bad day was rarely a "bad day." It was always filled with good things; I just glossed over them focusing on the crap. Now I think how to fix something versus drowning in a hopeless situation.
It is a real blessing in our lives that he has this attitude and taught me how to embrace challenge as opportunity. As you know, we are lucky to have a high-functioning autistic child - Logan. The old me with my stinking thinking couldn't mother our baby boy. I know I would've folded.
Without Chris, I would never have stopped to appreciate all the things that make our little family of three so special. They both teach me about working hard, loving life, and being yourself.
You see, Chris is more than my husband, my lover, my best-friend. He is IT for me. I know we were meant to be together because my life was meant to be lived to the fullest. He brought that to my life.
Just like Dorothy in Wizard of Oz, it was always inside me but I needed to see it. Chris helped me see all that I could be and loves all that I am today. I'm not perfect, he's not perfect, but we have more fun trying to be our best than focusing on our struggles.
so wonderful.. a love for a lifetime..
Posted by: April | October 22, 2009 at 08:12 AM
Chris,
You are such a wonderful man. Not only to Corinne but to those of us who you have touched in one way or another. I have loved our chats and enjoy hearing your thoughts on things.
You are a great father and husband. Kudos to you!
Posted by: Kathleen | October 24, 2009 at 03:21 AM