The Greater the Struggle, The More Glorious the Triumph

The words were softly spoken in the 20 minute, emotionally packed prize winning film by Joshua Weigel, "Butterfly Circus". If you haven't seen it yet, you owe it to yourself to do so. The words are worthy of being shouted from rooftops.

“The greater the struggle,
the more glorious the triumph!”

What does that mean to us, as fellow dieters? Each pound lost is cause for celebration. We struggled for it; changing our eating habits, resisting temptations, moving our bodies in new and often tortuous ways. As we get closer and closer to our goals (and we are), we ought to take into account all the hard work and sacrifice we have endured to reach that goal. And how glorious it will feel when we actually get there!

At the present, I can only imagine. Think of it, the triumph of buying new clothes in an almost unimaginably small size. Of looking in the mirror and loving what we see. Of have the energy and endurance to chase our children and to play new games. Of fulfilling the desire to look sexy to our mate. Of gazing at a white chocolate Napoleon and not having to wipe the drool off the front of our shirts (OK, I’ll always drool over pastries). Of going to our annual check-up and the doctor telling us we no longer have to take our cholesterol or blood pressure medication. Of not shuddering every time we think of putting on a swim suit. Of feeling really good about ourselves and what we’ve accomplished.

Yes, we are struggling now. But think of that glorious triumph! In the end it will have been well worth the struggle, whether you will have lost 20 pounds, 120 pounds or more.

What triumphs are you imagining?