Thursday, April 25, 2013

Back To The Pool


Spring -her first day at the pool this year. Her heart was pounding. She could feel the sweat starting to collect across her face. Maybe she shouldn't do this. “Maybe I should just turn around and go back home” she thought to herself. Slowly she pushed open the ornate iron gate that surrounded the pool. For just a moment she paused and looked around. In each area, people were sitting in small groups, some laughing, and some soaking up the sun. “I can do this” she thought.

Even though the sun was blasting down and the concrete was uncomfortably hot, she noticed that sweet smell of springtime honeysuckle in the air. The sweet smell and cool spring breeze took her back in time to when she was a little girl and the pool simply meant one thing: fun.  As the gate slammed shut behind her though, she was brought right back to the present and the reality that the pool had not been fun for many years! The pool is a place where only the brave dare go out. It’s a place filled with one-piece swim suits, cover ups, sarongs, wraps and many other creative ways to hide the reality of a poor diet and lack of exercise.

But, there she was. Many, many times in the past she had avoided going to the pool. Each time a friend invited her, she had a conflict. “Oh, I’m so sorry; I’ve already got something planned for that afternoon.” Yes, like sitting at home in front of the TV eating unhealthy food and “wishing” things were different. It had been many, many years since she had actually enjoyed going to the pool -or on dates, or shopping for clothes, or you know, living life.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. As she stood there, she began to replay all of the last five months in the gym, sweating it out on the treadmill, pushing around the weights and doing lots and lots of crunches. She recalled all of the healthy food choices she had made over the last five months. Cookies and wine had given way to strawberries and protein shakes. Enchiladas and margaritas had been replaced with grilled chicken and water. “Wow. Did I do this?” she asked herself.

Opening her eyes, a beautiful, well-earned smile broke across her face. “YES, I did this!” she exclaimed. As she walked, the glow of her brand new swimsuit only seemed to enhance the flat, toned stomach she now had. With each confident step, legs that most women would kill for carried her through the pool area. As she walked, people noticed. In fact, many of the girls at the pool just wished they could look like her. Well, actually ALL of the girls wished they could look like her.

Once on her lounger, she sat back with a smile and a cold bottle of water. Oh, and confidence, happiness and excellent health. What was in store for her as the summer unfolds? Who knows? But, who wouldn’t want to find out? If you want a better life, make the decision like she did to eat healthy and get regular exercise. There simply are NO limits to what you can do. This reminds me of a quote one of our UB'ers just shared on Facebook: “She believed she could, so she did.” Guess what, your turn!  

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