Reflection

I can honestly say that for years I really didn't like myself.  I had become fat, lazy, depressed and really had no motivation to do anything.  My life consisted of going to work, eating and watching television for hours and hours.   I had lost all desire to go out, meet up with friends and just hang around the general public for any length of time.  On the slim chance that I did go out, I did as little as possible to my appearance,  I would throw my hair back in a pony tail, slap on some jeans and a sweatshirt and headed out the door.  Why would I want to spend so much time on a person I didn't like?

Three years ago I came up with what I thought was the best idea ever;  to get a makeover.  I started out going to a really fun makeup boutique and visited with a makeup artist to revamp my look.  The makeup job was fabulous, and of course I bought everything that the artist used on my face.  The next day, it was on to my hair appointment.  I felt I needed something drastically different, so I went from a blah blah brown to a fabulous blonde.

It was my feeling that if I saw a different reflection in the mirror, someone that I didn't recognize, I could learn to like this person.  That all of the hatred I had for the person whose reflection was in the mirror just two days earlier would vanish in a puff of smoke.  But that wasn't the case.  My soul was even more unhappy that I was still fat, lazy and depressed, and I still had no desire to do anything.

This past year has been one of lots of changes and growth.  I have found the wonderful world of boxing that has changed my life completely.  I have done things I have never thought I could and have done things I have never thought I would.  I have lost a total of 61 lbs and 44 inches, and have gone from a size 24/3x to a size 12/Large.  

As I sit here writing this tonight, it has occurred to me that everything I have gone through, the depression and tears, the triumphs and joys, the sacrifices, the aches and pains, and the gallons of sweat, have made me into the person I am today, and today I think I'm pretty great.