A note about "The Rules"

I love this. You're a really great person.

This is really great and you are so right. When I started blogging it was all about making myself responsible for my actions and helping myself through this journey. Now, hopefully as I learn the ropes of blogging, I hope to one day inspire someone else who needs help to keep going and know they are not alone. Just like so many others in this journey have done for me.

It is definitely a community. We should #1. Make a hash tag on Twitter for all of us and 2. Plan a meet-up in the future to all get together. :p

Childhood sucks! My middle school-high school years were horrible. I didn't have anyone to talk to and that's probably why I always pull for the underdog now.

Sometimes it's not that people don't want to help it's that people just want to complain. They don't want to change their situation.

It always amazes me that people manage only to see the surface and not the deeper part of what's actually going on with people. There's always a story and a reason why someone is the way that they are. It's such a shame that we don't dig deeper.

It doesn't mean that you can help everyone or that you should help everyone but a little empathy can go a very long way.

It was one flippant comment from my manager at work that made me suddenly realize that I had the ability to change things in my life.

there was a lady were I used to work.. who could not wait for me to gain my weight back.. I had lost over 40 pounds.. over the years I did gain it back long after I had left that job.. you know I always think regarding those viperous people.. I may be fat.. but i can lose weight.. I can change.. you on the other hand are ugly.. ugly in your soul.. and you... can never change.... I always think that about them.. in some odd way it gives me comfort.. as child food was constantly being taken from me.. I wonder if someone had just taught me how to eat properly .. what would my relationship with food be now.. Since I was 10 I have been on diets.. diet pills .. wacky quickies.. and long protracted programs.. and what I find works best as an adult is keeping track of my food and exercise.. sort of like banking.. you have an allowance of calories to spend during the day .. thats its... but you can earn more calories by burning what you have used.. thats what works the most realistically for me... still a work in progress...

I can totally relate on the gym teacher who didnt do enough. I was talking about this a while back when I was working my way through the c25k...I was useless at running in school, I could sprint but couldnt do anything more that 400 meters without dying and having to walk. If proper running technique had been encouraged instead of there you go theres a field maybe I would have enjoyed running/jogging much sooner.

Robby, I was deeply touched by this specific post. I read almost all of your previous ones but this particular one truly moved me. It's so true and I, like everybody else can relate to it. I have always been my worst enemy. I could never be satisfied with my body/body image. No matter how fit and healthy I was, I would always think that it wasn't "perfect" enough. Now that my body has dramatically changed after giving birth to my dear son, I can look back at my old self and realize how obsessed and drastically blinded I was. As you said, people love to complain about the wrong things. So, instead of feeling sorry for myself because I didn't enjoy my fit body before, I'm learning to love the way I am for what it is. Not for what it used to be, or what it could have been. Not even for what it will be after I lose the baby weight. It's not easy but I'm working on it.

LOVE the rules. This? This is why I stopped three times during my 5K on July 4th to encourage a young runner who was struggling. To talk to him about being less about SPEED or BEATING SOMEONE ELSE and more about DOING HIS BEST and BEING PROUD OF FINISHING. I wish someone had talked to me about that stuff when I was a kid. So AMEN to being there and helping when people need it!

What an amazing post. We have a lot in common - and I LOVE that!! My belief is that lots of people have a hard life, but it's how you chose to use situations you lived through that makes the difference. No one is going to change if they don't want to - but maybe knowing that there's a person willing to help might give them that little nudge they need to get the job done. You are a very inspiring person...one that gives me a nudge when I need it. You're helping me - and many others - thank you!!

I agree. We should try and help when we can and when our help is welcomed.

My problem is the frustration that comes with seeing people who need help and either don't want it, or won't accept it. It's tough to watch people struggle. I find I often fall into the trap of trying to "fix" people, which I admit, is the worst thing I could do.

On the flip side, sure we may have been spared some suffering if people had treated us differently at certain points in our lives. But that said, it can be too easy to blame others for our shortcomings. We have the power to sculpt our lives from where they are now, to wherever we want them to be. If we didn't, we'd all be in trouble ;)

Forget the things that caused you distress in the past, but NEVER forget the lessons they taught you!
Rae
xo

As always FG you are an inspiration! xx

I love this. I try to live by this rule, always. Thanks for linking it up in #fitblog.

I love your rule. It is so important to remember all the people that helped you when you needed it, and I always try to encourage people in the same way when I see someone who looks unsure, unhappy, or ready to give up. Thank you for this post!