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!
