Grateful

Sometimes, we get so focused on what we don't have that we forget to be grateful for what we do have.

As a very large person, someone carrying over 100+ extra pounds around, I find myself always looking at people who seem to be thinner/fitter than I am, and I want to be there. I forget to feel happy with what I can do right now, and I only focus on what I can't do.

I went walking with my friend D last evening. She is shorter, thinner, and seems a lot more graceful than I am. Next to her I feel like a huge elephantine person. This is only what I'm seeing though. Her view was different.

She told me that she wished she was tall, like I am because sometimes, being short is not all that great.

She told me she can't swim.

She told me she can't run, because she has a bad back.

She told me she is pre-diabetic, so she really has to watch what she eats so that she doesn't fall over the edge. She has a family history of diabetes.

I realized something. Yeah, I'm overweight. Yeah, I need to lose weight.

But.

I'm healthy, I can do things she can't do, and I do really like being tall.

I think it's important to remember to be happy with who we are and what we can do right now. I think it's easy to lose sight of this in our constant rush to improve ourselves.

My body can pretty much do whatever I want it to, and that, in itself, is a gift. So many people can't.