My featured image shows the harbor in my hometown. It’s filled with boats, and at first glance, paints an idyllic summer scene, bobbing boats at twilight. What you can’t see, is that today was unseasonably cool, and it felt as though summer was packing her bags because vacation had come to an end.

Change is tricky, it is both desired and feared depending on the situation. Change is exciting, or scary. It may leave you stronger or weaker, it may come on strong or gradually over time. But the one thing that is certain is that change will always come. It is the great equalizer, it happens to us all for nothing in this life is static. So how we cope with change matters and this is especially true on a weight loss journey.

The First Day of School

I fell right into step with change as if we were doing a familiar dance step. I packed my lunch, laid out my clothes, and planned for how to fit in activity after a busy day. I left my workout clothes in their usual position, resting on the hard wooden chair in my living room. When I got home, I began the ritual of putting away the lunch box and cleaning the vegetables that would be part of tonight’s dinner. Once dinner was cooking I didn’t overthink it, I quickly changed my clothes and did a 20-minute workout.

This is what living a healthy lifestyle looks like for me. This was a glimpse into my day on the precipice of change. As I reflect, I am full of gratitude. I see that all the work to establish strong healthy habits equipped me to cope with change. Everything happened seamlessly and required hardly any effort on my part. So as I wave goodbye to summer and all the wonderful gifts she brings, I realize the greatest gift of all is my lesson learned, “I am what I do.” I take this to heart and it comforts me.