Second Chances

There are times in life that we are given second chances.  Many times we are given second chances when we don't even realize that it is a second chance.  That is where I feel I am in my life journey, not just my weight loss journey.  Let me share with you how the thought came to my mind to write about it, but more importantly how it hit me to change how I look at my life in general.
I was sitting in my back yard on Saturday evening watching my 9 year old black and tan coon hound run and frolic around the back yard playing with my other dog.  For most people this would not be significant.  For me this was a moment of thanks to God.  You see, just a few months ago I had to take Minnie (my dog) to the vet because her hips were hurting her so badly that she could barely walk.  I made my husband go with me because I was terrified the doctor was going to tell me that there was nothing that they could do and we were going to have to put her down.  He confirmed that she has hip dysplasia, but with proper medication and getting some weight off of her she would be able to live much longer.  He said a dog with 3 legs can survive, but a dog with 2 can't.  So we put her on a strick diet and medication.  I think this talk scared Dane and even he conformed to the no bad treat and table scrap policy for her health.  Believe it or not a dog will eat sweet potato for treats instead of the crap you buy at stores and they will survive without the leftovers we hate to throw away.  So watching her play like she was young again and seeing her ears perked up warmed my heart and brought a few tears of thanks to my eyes.  Minnie had gotten her second chance even if she didn't realize is.  She is living her second chance.  Thankfully she doesn't have the ability to get food or anything unless we give it to her and becuase of that we will have more years to love her.  At times I wish life for me was that way.
Which leads me to myself and when my light bulb went off and I realized my second chance.  Most of you who know me know that my mother died a year ago in December.  My mother was one of my very best friends and the very line that tethered me to the ground.  I spoke to her every day.  I saw her at least once a week.  And when she fell ill I was the main one who took care of her.  During the last 6-8 months of her life I worked 2 days a week so that I could spend the other 3 taking care of her.  I don't say that for sympathy or to pat myself of the back.  I say that to express what an important part of my life she was.  After her death I was lost.  For a year I was numb and wandered through life without caring much about anything.  I didn't realize to the depth of how I felt until this past Christmas/New Years.

Because my mother died on the 16th of December and her funeral was on the 20th Christmas will probably remain difficult for me.  So this last year me and Dane decided to go away for Christmas.  We went to Charleston, SC and just enjoyed our time together quitely through the holiday.  Our time was quite and gave me lots of time to think.  I was finally still and quiet for long enough to finally realize just how I had been feeling for the whole year and that led me to wondering about my weight and my health and where they would lead me in the future.

My mother died from cancer at 72 and my father died from a heart attack at 66.  I am currently completely healthy, no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol or any others problems, but for how long?  How many second chances will I get?  I turned 41 in February and how many more years will I be given if i don't make some changes?  And it really struck me this time. 

That is where my journey began.  I decided to join Weight Watchers and thankfully my friend at work joined with me.  And as I have said before, something about this time is different for me.  Something in me has clicked this time.  I realize it is not a diet that I am going to lose weight and then can go back to what I was eating before.  This is a life change.  This is my opportunity to grab hold of my second chance.  No matter what your second chance may be, don't let it pass you by.