From the Outside, Looking In

Today’s post is from Dorothy’s best friend, Christena.  She tells us a little about their past, the changes she already sees in her friend, and how she feels about all of it!



It is not often that someone can say that they have had a best friend for 30 years. I am one of those lucky few who can say such a thing. Dorothy and I met at church when I was seven years old and we have been friends ever since. Over the years we have shared a lot. We have laughed at life and cried on each other’s shoulders, said our last goodbyes to friends and relatives, and rejoiced at weddings and births. Some years were hard, some easy, but we always found comfort in times of need on the others shoulder. It is truly a rare and precious thing to have such a friend in this world.

There is one thing though, that I could never help Dorothy with. That was her struggle with weight loss. Over the years we have had many conversations about this topic. She would tell me how she started a new diet program and how she wished and hoped to get the weight off. We would make plans for the shopping spree or a vacation. But the wish and hope and dream never seemed to materialize. I could never tell her how much it worried me. If I could do anything to help her I would. However, I knew that this was a battle only she could fight. So I prayed for her and encouraged her to keep trying.

Then a few weeks ago she called me. I heard something new in her voice: determination and fear. Fear that she would not be able to do all the things she wanted to with her daughter; fear that her health problems would lead to an early death. I also heard determination.  She said to me, “I’m not going to keep living like this.  I am making a change.  I joined a gym and I’m learning to eat differently.”  This was the moment I had been praying for! She was not talking about wishing anymore.  She was talking about goals, work, and change.  Of course it did not stop there.  She has been calling me and telling me about pounds coming off and her “mean” personal trainer who challenges her every day to try stuff she never dreamed she could do (I really want to give that guy a hug and tell him to keep it up).

Saturday I drove down to see her for a gym “date.”  She looked great! We went to the gym to work out and WOW!! I remember when she could not make it through the mall. She went two miles on the elliptical then she moved on to the treadmill and the bike, for a total of four miles. But that was not the end of our day!  We went to Madison to see my mom in the hospital and even went for lunch. In the past my friend could not have done so much in one day, but obviously working out has really increased her stamina. I’m so proud of her. She is not wishing or hoping that she will lose weight. She’s working to change her life one step at a time. I’m so excited and I know she can do it. I can’t wait to do the polka with her at her daughter’s wedding!