Old Pictures Bring Inspiration & Motivation

Inspiration and motivation came to me yesterday when a package of old pictures was delivered to me by my husband’s Aunt. Among all the cute pictures of my kids from a few years past were also pictures of me, the obese 229 lb. me.

I was always the one with the camera so I was able to avoid pictures of myself. Well, these were not taken by my camera; they were taken by other people. Needless to say, I was quite surprised to see my old self, with all the extra weight I was carrying. I had to stop and stare with tons of emotions running through my mind. My face was so chubby, my eyes were so puffy, my body was so large.

My kids looked at the pictures, my husband looked at the pictures, and none of them made any comments. I looked at the pictures and said, “Wow, look how big I was.” My husband quietly said "yeah." They probably weren’t looking at what I was looking at or maybe they didn’t want to hurt me. I just kept looking at them over and over thinking that I’m so glad I don’t look like that anymore.

Seeing those pictures was good motivation for me to stay committed to staying healthy and to be conscious of what I do every day. I do not want to go back to those old days. I need to remember all the little rewards I have earned like being able to tie my shoes, buying my clothes in a normal store, along with having low cholesterol, not being a diabetic or having heart disease like my parents do.

It is nice to be reminded every now and then of why I try to stay healthy. My husband’s Aunt will never know what her little package of old pictures means to me. I might have to make copies and put them in place that I will see them like in the pantry where I keep the cookies!