Years ago, I started on a weight loss journey that was life changing. During that time I lost almost 75 pounds. Over the past four years I have gained 25 back. Not bad, but I want to get them off because I don’t like the way I feel. I remembered a letter I received from a reader that had an impact on me, and that I wrote about when I first lost all the weight. I pulled it out to read it again and I’m glad I did. It inspired me…again, and I hope it will do the same for you.

I promise IT will be mentioned in millions of editorials and articles ad nauseum. What exactly is IT? Resolutions. One can hardly say New Year without thinking resolution. Writers will argue why we should set resolutions, or why we shouldn’t. They will give us step-by-step directions on how to set them, the top 10 most popular resolutions in case you can’t come up with your own, and, of course, advice on how to keep them (as if they have kept their own resolutions). I was born in September, and if my memory serves, four months later I resolved to lose weight.

In looking forward in 2019, when it comes to resolutions, I say do what you want. If setting one helps you stay on track and feeds your desire to succeed, do it! Why wouldn’t you? However, if your track record for resolutions is fairly dismal, like mine, just skip going through the motions and avoid setting yourself up for failure. Regardless of what you do, I want to encourage you to look back before you look ahead.

Recently, back before Thanksgiving, I reminded my 20-year-old daughter to make her Christmas list. Her response: “I don’t like making Christmas Lists.” Her comment whisked me back to childhood, and I told her all about how I would make my list as a child.  “Oh, I used to love making my Christmas list!” I said, which lead to a delightful conversation filled with lots of reminiscing and memories. I told her about the year Dad and I went to Service Merchandise to get my mother’s gift. He bought Mom, my sister and me pearl earrings that year. They didn’t have three pairs alike, so we chose the identical pairs for them, and I got the pair that was a little different. I told her how my father rarely bought Mom or us gifts, and if he did, it was usually on Christmas Eve. Those pearl earrings were extra special, and I still wear them.

Blessed is the season which
engages the whole world
in a conspiracy of love.
— Hamilton Wright Mabie —

Christmastime is magical. Somehow it manages to take some of the grumpiest of grumps and hardest of hearts and soften them. Even through all the busyness, stress, and sadness many feel, people think of others more during the holidays than any other time.

It’s almost that time of the year when visions of sugarplums become reality and cookies and casseroles lay in wait to destroy diets across the land. A bah-humbug attitude sets in because everywhere you turn your will power gets a pie in the face—literally. You wake up with full intentions of “being good” and go to bed feeling overly full and despising the poor food decisions you lambasted your body with. Alas, this is not another article about dieting, willpower or “being good,” whatever that means. This is an article about honoring your body.

Surprise.