Last June I talked Yarby Williams, one of our H.O.P.E. participants, into joining me for the Krueger Memorial Splash & Dash. The concept was beyond her scope of comprehension and comfort. She did not believe she could do it because at this time she was unable to walk a mile. With some training, encouragement, fellow H.O.P.E. participants and committed family members, Yarby decided she would sign up for the H.O.P.E. one miler. With me and her family beside her, and a lot of sweat and tears, Yarby completed the H.O.P.E. one miler portion of the Splash & Dash. At this point Yarby had been on her journey of Lifestyle Change for about 6 months.
Fast forward to yesterday. I went to visit Yarby in the hospital. She has lost 200 pounds to date and had some of the excess skin removed from her now much smaller frame. I asked her this year if she would participate in the H.O.P.E. one miler with me and here is her reply: "I am so thankful to be able to be a part of it this year. It will be so much easier now that I am able to do 3 miles."
Yarby's story is no different than all of ours during our journey of Lifestyle Change. One step at a time leads us to where we want to be. Walt Whitman said, "For what is the present, after all, but a growth out of the past." I truly agree with this quote. One baby step after another. My encouragement to those of you who are reading this BLOG is to take a "step" and challenge yourself- Come join us for the H.O.P.E. one miler on Saturday, August 15th at 8:30am. It will be an opportunity to join with others who embrace a healthy lifestyle. You can join us in a few ways: Sign up for the entire 1 mile, a portion of the mile or at the H.O.P.E. tent during the race. Here the website for more information and to sign up. You may also fill out the form and give it me.
http://www.ymcacharlotte.org/harris/programs/fitnesswellness/gkrr.aspx
To prepare for this event, we meet every Tuesday and Friday at the Harris YMCA track near the Teen Center at 9am. Come join us!
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5 comments:
WHAT AN INSPIRATION! Thanks for sharing, Julie, and thank you Yarby for your example! Congratuations on minus 200! I am so proud and thankful to know you both.
I plan to be at the one-miler with my walking shoes on!
So glad you'll be walking with us, Janice! Hope many of you will be there, even if you can't or don't want to walk. Yarby
Wow---I am so proud of you, Yarby! It seems like yesterday you were inching your way to walking. I realize that time flies and I've spent a lifetime convincing myself it takes TOO long to get healthy; when all along, ALOT can be accomplished one day at a time towards healthy lifestyle change. Life is going SOOO fast, so why not enjoy each day by choosing to be healthy and a year from now (which will be here quickly) I will be so thankful I chose to take actions of health one day, one step at a time. Looking forward to the one-miler!
Thanks so much, Kindra! And you are an inspiration to me, and such an encouragement. You are doing so well and I am so thankful that you are going to be involved in the one miler. I'm not sure my surgeon will actually allow me to walk by that day, but I will be there either way (and hope I can walk with you and many others). If all I can do is be a cheerleader, I will be excited to do just that, although I did register to walk. Looking forward to being back at group tomorrow, Lord willing.
And you're certainly right about one day at a time and a year being here quickly - I can't believe how fast time is passing, and I don't want to waste a moment of this precious time God has given to each of us NOW! Keep going, Kindra!
Is it safe to come to the Y tomorrow? Got that email about the swine flu...
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