Simply Grateful

Being on this journey for as long as I have been, I'm beginning to feel comfortable in my skin again.  I look in the mirror and I like what I see... FINALLY.  Even on quiet days alone, I have moments of reflection and satisfaction of what I've accomplished.  I'm proud of myself.  

Now, something that I don't expect quite yet is for people I know to see what I see.  I know that losing 75 lbs. is pretty dramatic.  I know the transformation that's happened, but tonight I was flooded with amazed eyes and compliments in a very unexpected place.

Each year, my client holds a huge event to celebrate the new year and what's to come.  Tonight was the big party. As I have for the past 4 years, I got myself dressed in my professional best and headed out to celebrate with them.

I'm a huge "people person", so I love this event.  It's like a reunion of sorts, where I get a chance to say hello to everyone... thank them for all their hard work and catch up.

Just the same, these are the people I work with.  I don't expect them to notice that I've lost the weight, nor do I expect them to mention it.  I expect them to talk to me about work topics and move on.  The group is probably 65% male... so, it made what happened even more unexpected.

I was absolutely overwhelmed tonight.  People I know well, people I see every day, the folks I see once a year, upper level managers, lower level managers, consultants.... you name it, I heard SUCH kind words from all.  The funny thing is that they probably don't realize how it even affected me tonight.  I'm certain most don't.

How can you be surprised each time someone says something nice?  I really don't know, but for some reason I always am.  My response is always the same, "Oh, thank you so much.  That's so nice of you to say."  I also carefully dodge the "how much have you lost?" question with "Thanks, it's been an awesome year."  These are almost filler statements for me when what I'm really thinking is "Seriously, you notice?"  

Of course, they notice.  How could they not?  But in my world, I'm sometimes still that overweight girl who blends into the wallpaper and doesn't get this type of attention.  I continue to work on it, but I'm still a work in progress.  

I share this with you because many of you are going to have moments like this (or many of you already have.)  Know that this post is not boastful, instead grateful and utterly amazed by the kindness of others.  It's a little more emotional than what I usually share, but it was an emotional night... unbeknownst to most of the people who I interacted with.

I seriously work with some of the nicest people.  And, eventually, I'll figure out how to accept a compliment.  


And, even though they won't be reading tonight, I thank them for taking a moment out of their night to make mine.