I came to understand that I wasn’t alone in what I was experiencing. ~Sonya P.
Most of my struggles came from habits I had depended on while working long hours and taking care of others. I always thought there would be time for me to “catch up” and take care of myself. Putting myself on the sidelines for so long was a disservice to myself. I can’t turn back the clock, but I can make different choices now.
My time with Cathy encouraged me to seek knowledge and understanding in so many areas of my life. I learned more about nutrition, but I also came to understand that grief is not a “one and done” kind of thing. I will always grieve the loss of my partner in life, and that’s okay. But I also learned that I can’t let grief dominate my life.
I came to understand that I wasn’t alone in what I was experiencing, even though grief is not something people commonly talk about. I know people can be uncomfortable talking about the death of someone we love, but it was important to me that people talk to me about my husband. I feel I have a better understanding now of how to grieve on my own and still feel good about moving forward.
I also learned that confidence is an amazing tool for success. Confidence opened my mind to learning about nutrition. It helped me get out of my car, walk to the end of the driveway and beyond, become interested in cooking, go into the grocery store, and take those small steps that once felt so difficult. Sometimes it was simply: ten minutes, thirty seconds, breathe.
I learned that it’s okay to fail as long as I tried. Not everything has to be perfect, especially the first time around. I learned to step outside my comfort zone, even if it meant I might be embarrassed. Oh well—what’s a girl to do? Maybe that moment of embarrassment gave someone else the courage to try, too, knowing it might not work out but that at least we tried.
I know I still have a long way to go to be healthy, but I work on it every day. There are bumps in the road. Some take time to get around, and some are very hard to get over. But I know I am okay, and I know I will be okay.
I also understand now that this isn’t a “one and done” thing. It’s a goal I work toward every day, making what I hope are more thoughtful choices along the way.