Tag Archives: self acceptance

STAYING HUMBLED

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I feel very strongly that growing up somewhat underprivileged had its advantages. I never look back at the past with regret. I believe everyone holds their fate within the palm of their own hand, whether it is smooth or calloused. When  I look back on my childhood days, a hand me down sky blue dress for my eighth grade graduation was a gift and not an embarrassment; I had food, I had shelter, I had love. My Mother recently apologized for that moment, as if she did something wrong. I tried to thank her for not only being a wonderful Mother, but for raising me to be humble with compassion. Those gifts are worth more to me now than a sparking new dress for school would have been then.



I am a poet, and I started thinking I should delve into the past to write some new old poems. That made me think of Dolly Parton and her coat of many colors. The song brings tears to my eyes. First of all I can only imagine what it was like to live in that kind of poverty in those times. I read a quote recently by Dolly Parton which put a lot of things into perspective. They were so poor they did not always have toilet paper.

“My aunt in Knoxville would bring newspapers up, which we used for toilet paper. Before we used it, we’d look at the pictures.” Dolly Parton

 

Dolly Parton may have been lacking in material needs, but she was rich in love, spirit, talent, and humor. She has never forgotten where she came from; she learned from it, created from it, but has  never let it shape her identity.  I would love to meet her one day, she is such a positive inspiration. I had the same gifts, my Mother was a survivor and I am proud of my modest yet treasured upbringing. So if you find yourself wallowing the shallow waters of the past, remember sometimes blessings are found in down to earth disguises.
Always, love and light.
Rose

 Coat of Many Colors
Lyrics by Dolly Parton

Back through the years
I go wonderin once again
Back to the seasons of my youth
I recall a box of rags that someone gave us
And how my momma put the rags to use
There were rags of many colors
Every piece was small
And I didn’t have a coat
And it was way down in the fall
Momma sewed the rags together
Sewin every piece with love
She made my coat of many colors
That I was so proud of
As she sewed, she told a story
From the bible, she had read
About a coat of many colors
Joseph wore and then she said
Perhaps this coat will bring you
Good luck and happiness
And I just couldnt wait to wear it
And momma blessed it with a kiss
Chorus:

My coat of many colors
That my momma made for me
Made only from rags
But I wore it so proudly
Although we had no money
I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colors
My momma made for me

So with patches on my britches
Holes in both my shoes
In my coat of many colors
I hurried off to school
Just to find the others laughing
And making fun of me
In my coat of many colors
My momma made for me

And oh I couldnt understand it
For I felt I was rich
And I told them of the love
My momma sewed in every stitch
And I told em all the story
Momma told me while she sewed
And how my coat of many colors
Was worth more than all their clothes

But they didn’t understand it
And I tried to make them see
That one is only poor
Only if they choose to be
Now I know we had no money
But I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colors
My momma made for me
Made just for me
(c) Dolly Parton

BEGINNING WEIGH IN WEIGHT WATCHERS

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Yesterday in my blog post I talked about our digits. Those sly little numbers that seem to be our identities. Our we robots or humans? We are identified by our social security numbers, pin numbers, credit scores, weight, age, and our measurements. Ah, the nuances of numbers. It is enough to make a mathematically challenged gals head spin. I am Rose, and I am not a number.

Ok, Enough griping about numbers. I am coming clean with mine, and it is not the easiest challenge. I have accepted the fact that my weight is a high number, but accepting it and admitting it to the world does not mean I have decided to stay in the position of being overweight. Quite the contrary, I have accepted that I am overweight and  choose to lose weight for good to be a healthier, happier version of who I am today.

So yesterday I made my trek to Weight Watchers. The leader Susie recognized me from before. Yes, I had been there before and did not follow through, remember I am a procrastinator and tend to not always follow through when it comes to losing weight. But that has changed as I embark on this journey to lose weight and sponsor a charity with each ten pound loss. To lose weight the correct way, no quick fix scheme. And yes, I am doing it for me too.

Susie is quite adorable, and inspirational. We had a long chat and if time allows I am going to try to make her meetings. She told me stories about the seventies and Weight Watchers. She is very helpful and I felt empowered by her positive energy. I like Weight Watchers because it works for me. I keep a food journal, and eat my healthy meals and track my 26 daily points. It is a reminder to not skip meals, and to pace your points though the day. It works when you stick with it, combined with fitness and working out. 

Here is the beginning weight of my journey, 210 pounds. I do cringe when I look at it, and people always say I do not look it but the scale does not lie. I am coming out today, my name is Rose and I weight 210 pounds, but not for long.

Off to work then work out with my friend Mike who is a trainer. He is kind enough to help me begin my journey.  I will have more information about him and what type of workout I am doing with him as I continue on. More photos to follow. I decided this journey is to be a fun adventure, and so far I am loving every minute of it. I am transitioning, and enjoying the process as well as the final results.

Namaste’ Happy Tuesday
Make today a remarkable day
Rose