Letter to Me...

Thanks to Kim for the challenge of writing a letter to myself. The purpose of the letter is to outline why I began this journey and my reasons for why I want to lose weight. So here is my letter, unedited for the world to read.

Dear Ashley,

Your life has been full of many struggles and it has been hard at times. Yet, you have succeeded in so many ways; becoming a strong woman, graduating college, finding faith, learning to cook and bake. Your personality is one that is welcoming to so many people and you find the positives in life and share them with anyone.

The one thing you have failed to succeed in one aspect of your life; weight. Year after year, diet after diet, you have tried and hit road blocks each time. Each time, gaining more weight than what you originally weighed. Finally you hit a wall when Christina passed away. You decided at that moment that she would not die in vain or that her memory would be attached to the choices she made that ultimately led to her death. She is your wake up call, your hope for the future.

You find yourself scared at the possibility of succeeding in your weight loss journey because it is the one thing you have never done before. It is time to close that chapter in your life to move on to a better healthier you. You have come to terms with your past and your weight is the last piece that is linking you to it. Put it to rest and move on, there are so many opportunities in your future; loving another, "growing up". Do not let your weight hinder your ability to do all of the plus more.

You are the non-conformist of the family, make your journey of losing the weight for good, part of your non-traditional ways. There will be times that you hit bumps in this long road but remember to get back up and keep going. You have to separate your emotions from the reality of weight loss. Fear is not an emotion, it is an action because it causes a chain reaction that only you can work to avoid. So keep this fight up, you have come so far in only a few short months. The future holds so many possibilities and while it may be tough at times it will end up being totally worth it.

Victory will taste so sweet!

Ashley

Now I challenge you. What would your letter to self look like?