Scaling the Wall

This is a hard post for me. I honestly never thought I would be writing it. It's funny because I thought I was doing okay... until last night....

Today, I will work out with my new trainer Grant for the first time. I am sure he is great. He comes highly recommended and he works at the gym at my work, so I can get my training in on my lunch breaks. I am so fortunate for that. I really think that will help my schedule. I am sure that Grant will make me work hard, and I am sure I will see results. I also know that he's not Dan.

Even though I don't write about him all the time, I know that what I do write conveys to you how important Dan has been in my journey to getting healthy. I think I have also successfully conveyed to you what a good, patient person he is. Trust me - you have to be patient to deal with me!

Last year, Dan and I along with Debbie and our friend Matt did the Winter Pineapple Classic together. This is a 5K run with obstacle course. Here is a picture of me scaling the climbing wall during this race:

You can see my head peaking over the top, and Dan sitting on the wall talking me through it. Scaling this wall took me forever! I didn't realize how high up we were until I was up there. Once I was straddling the wall, he had to keep talking me through it. When I finally got down the other side, all of the people patiently waiting for me (see, I told you patience is required when dealing with me) cheered. Maybe they were cheering for me. Maybe they were cheering because it was finally their turn. Who knows.

This picture is so representative of where I am at today. I have lost 103 pounds! I have climbed the wall. I have made it over and I am just about to touch ground. I have done it all with Dan's help. But this where I move on. I am grateful that natural circumstances have helped facilitate the end of my time training with Dan. Now it is time for me to take what Dan has taught me, and finish this for myself. Today, I will show Grant what I am made of. I will show Grant that I am strong and determined and he will know that I had a good teacher.

I will never be able to look back on this part of my life without thinking of Dan. There aren't enough words to express how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to train with Dan. More than that, to be friends with Dan. I hope he knows I am proud of him. I am proud of the choices he is making. I am proud of the ways I have watched him grow. I hope he knows my world, and my life is better, because I knew him.