MY HEALTH JOURNEY: Half-way there
Ever run a Marathon? I haven’t. But I worked on long-term projects at The Tampa Tribune that were demanding and challenging. Half-way points were significant milestones but not always satisfying. Despite the distance traveled—and progress made—there was a long way still to go. I’m there right now.
Let me explain.
Started this health journey about a year ago weighing the most I’d ever been. Going to the bathroom left me out of breath. Could barely make it to my wife's car in the driveway. When I did, couldn’t get the safety-belt clicked without help. Leaving the house became such an ordeal that I stayed home—no church, no birthday parties, anniversaries, or holiday get-togethers.
How did I feel? Empty. Lonely. All-day-long. Just me, the puppies, Stormy the Cat, and a little lizard that used to pal around my keyboard. (Don’t know what happened to Lizzie, but Stormy was probably involved.)
I know what you’re thinking: “Jim, this sounds depressing. What happened to Funny Jim? Happy Jim? Wacky Jim? Silly Jim? Where’s that Jim?”
He’s still here—but he’s showing a serious side today. Here’s why: There was this potato-sack race when I was a kid. I’m leading the pack (with the finish line sooooo close) but I celebrated too soon: Raised my hands in victory. Sack dropped to my ankles. Tripped. Face hit the dirt. Embarrassing. Humiliating.
As Yogi Berra once observed, “It ain’t over till it’s over” — and (for me) it ain’t over, yet.
Ever run a Marathon? I haven’t. But I’ve driven by half-built houses. Peeked in ovens at half-baked cakes. Looked at bits and pieces of a VW engine scattered on the drive-way mid-point through a re-build. Stuff like that.
Life gets messy. Discombobulated. Shook-up. Right now I’m standing at the corner of Messy Avenue and Main Street—headin’ in the right direction, knowing there’s bumpy roads, dark tunnels, unexpected detours, and washed-out bridges ahead.
Half-way there, folks. Half-way through my Marathon. Gotta keep on keepin’ on.
Sometimes it’s daunting. Scary. Formidable. But when I ponder where I’ve been—and what I’ve gone through—I’m motivated to take the next step, and the next step, and the next . . .
Watch this space … I’m still in a cocoon churning my way through a transformation. When I’m finally a butterfly, you better keep an eye on the sky. Why? Cause (Lord willin’) I’m gonna fly, baby. Oh, my, how high I’m gonna fly.
PS: In case you wondered, I can walk to the bathroom and not be out of breath, stroll to the car, clickin’ the safety-belt by myself—then go to church, birthday parties, anniversaries, and holiday gatherings. I’m on my way to getting healthy, one step at a time. Oh, yeah. Almost forgot. Lost 80 pounds since I got started this journey. Got about a hundred to go. Will keep you updated along the way.