Dear Richard Simmons

Dear Richard,

I’m not sure why I feel so compelled to write this blog post today and specifically write it about you. Yesterday I was out walking like I normally do. When I walk for long periods of time my mind wanders to what life used to be like for me. I think about how little I cared for myself and how today nothing is as it used to be.

Many times I think about all the people that have come into my life over the last two years either in person or via some outlet of social media. When someone pops into my mind I try to concentrate on them even if for just a minute and send them good thoughts in case they are feeling down about themselves or having a hard time believing in themselves.

Yesterday I was thinking about my friends David and Kenlie. It just so happens that David wrote about you on the exact same day that I was thinking about him and about you (strange no?) I care deeply for both of them because we all share the same struggles of weight loss.

I was thinking about you yesterday because I am apart of a group of people called “FitFluential” and I’m not so sure I’m a good fit for them. It’s hard for me to articulate at this time but I don’t think I am the “brand” they are looking for…more importantly I don’t think they are the “brand” I am looking for.

I am emotionally wrapped up in wanting other people to stand up and take control of their lives. I am emotionally wrapped up in showing people who are convinced that they can’t, that in fact they can because I was sure I couldn’t either. I don’t have a child I’m trying to be healthy for. I don’t have family members I’m trying to role model for by making better decisions. My heart and compassion goes far beyond that. It goes out to people who don’t even know I exist. It goes out to the person looking at a flight of stairs and wondering if they can get to the top without having to stop and catch their breath. It goes out to the runner that is crying before the start of their first race because they are in the right place for the first time in their lives. It goes out to the person who pulls into the fast food drive-thru and then pulls away without placing an order because shoving food into their mouth without thought is no longer an option.

I was walking and thinking about all this and you came to mind. My guess is you think about people the same way I do. I want you to know how thankful I am for you. How thankful I am that you came into my friends’ life and how thankful I am that you weaved in and out of my own life on the television set until I decided it was time and then set myself on a path to do something about saving my life.

I’m sure people come up to you everyday and thank you; for changing their lives, for believing in them, for caring about them. That’s what I aspire to become. I want someone somewhere to be walking and thinking about where they once were and where they are today and send up a little thank you to the universe that I could be a part of their journey.

I hope you felt me thinking about you.

Thank you for helping me understand what I’m trying to do.

You are my brand.