August 9th, on this day...
586BC - Solomon's Temple is totally destroyed by the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar.
1173 – Construction of the campanile of the cathedral of Pisa (now known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa) begins; it will take two centuries to complete.
1483 – Opening of the Sistine Chapel in Rome with the celebration of a Mass.
1854 – Henry David Thoreau publishes Walden.
1930 – Betty Boop makes her cartoon debut in Dizzy Dishes.
1945 – World War II: Nagasaki, Japan is devastated when an atomic bomb, Fat Man, is dropped by the United States B-29 Bockscar. 39,000 people are killed outright.
1965 – Singapore is expelled from Malaysia and becomes the first and only country to date to gain independence unwillingly.
1971 – The Troubles: The British security forces in Northern Ireland launch Operation Demetrius. Hundreds of people are arrested and interned, thousands are displaced, and 24 are killed in the violence that follows. Its introduction, and the abuse of those interned, leads to numerous protests.
1974 – As a direct result of the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon becomes the first President of the United States to resign from office. His Vice President, Gerald Ford, becomes president.
1993 – The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan loses a 38-year hold on national leadership.
2010 – Adrian Cuvello has the gastric bypass operation to potentially save his life from morbid obesity.
Of course I added that last one :) big thank you to wikipedia for the information, I actually can't believe how much had actually happened on that day, a day I can share with history the day I had a potential life saving operation from my "medical disease" that thousands upon thousands suffer from on a daily basis. The sad consequence of obesity is the stereotypical view it portrays to the world the best example is when you see somebody that is obese walk into a fast food chain and order a meal for 3 yet they entered alone, if only they were not all perceived like this, yes I said they, I am officially no longer morbidly obese just obese with a body mass index of 33%, much better from my starting percentage of 67 yes? I thought so.
So I read over the first blog I wrote at the beginning of the year and noticed an error in the title of the blog, I wonder how many others noticed, something I haven't done in these blogs was write about the topics I left at the end of that blog so I thought I would cover one or two now as a celebratory look back over the past 104 weeks, 24 months or 2 years since the operation.
So what did I achieve in these past 2 years and what have I not achieved?
Let me start with what I haven't achieved, nothing comes to mind, I have come so far from the beginning that I feel I have not achieved nothing from this journey, that says a lot I'm not trying to be egotistical in any way but I do believe I have I achieved much more than anyone thought possible, except me, I was craving for change, I was foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog at the opportunity to change my life I took that chance and I rode the bull by the horns through hell and back to where I am today.
I love that saying the grass is greener on the other side, it's true it really is but I cannot explain how or why it is better to you, honestly I don't want to I just want to sit on the freshly cut grass and be left alone with myself for a few minutes. The grass is so comfy I might have a snooze.
What did I achieve?
I broke barriers, I stunned my surgeon and I never plateaued until I choose to during my weight loss, I was in complete control and I am now a shinning example of greatness.
Oh shush you I'm allowed my five minutes of fame, what I achieved is more than most will ever do in their life times, I'll pat myself on the back just this once, excuse me for a second...
That felt good.
In 100 weeks I lost 100kgs (220lbs) and during this time I choose to plateau for 5 months testing the waters if you will, In the past 2 years I have challenged my past, my childhood is filled with darkness and an emotional connection that "used" to drag me down with it. I sought help I was completely open to changing my attitude and thinking that I saw specialists in their field to help me overcome this extra baggage, in 4 months I have taken a huge turn for the better I no longer have an emotional connection with my past that I can now remove those memories and create new ones, it is a shame that so much is missing from my childhood such as family and gatherings which I cannot remember but perhaps now I can make my own, perhaps that was the point from the beginning.
I believe the biggest of my achievements so far is my new vocal thought process, I am not vocal to my family about my feelings and I ask them many questions about life, now that I have an opportunity to meet new people and perhaps experience love at one point I am coming to them every day with questions and curiosity, usually this is taken for granted but to me it's a learning process, to somebody who never had a true friend until 2002 (when I was 18) I missed out on a lot.
Those closest to me I tell them that I love them, I may not say those words exactly but I do let them know how much I appreciate them greatly in other ways, they have all been there with me from the beginning before the operation and now with my new look and attitude I know we have all grown closer together not further apart like most perceive from stories of "my gf/bf left me because I'm now the centre of attraction" they're easy to explain the other half was only in it for them self to make them feel better because they are full of insecurities and probably a little bit of jealousy too.
What have I yet to achieve?
3 major goals left before years end.
1. Climb the Sydney Harbor bridge before my birthday and I have this booked in and paid for, August 26th I'm climbing that bridge!
2. I have spoken to a plastic surgeon about the excessive skin removal and will be booking in an operation date of November. I also got an official quote too, perhaps I should write a book before then about this, the operation isn't cheap to say the least.
3. This one is pretty personal so I won't go into it but I need to talk to someone I know about how I uhh... gees I'm just going to stop there, sorry I haven't been able to ask yet I need strength and courage for this situation, the weight loss and mental changes don't even come close on a difficulty level when it comes to this last one, anyone with half a brain has worked it out already and I wonder if she has realised while reading it that I am talking about you, yup you.
- The thing that scares me most is losing a friend if I go down that path and it doesn't go the way I hope it does because I don't know how to deal with this issue like an adult yet, it's my biggest fear and has been with me all my life but perhaps there is no correct way to deal with it but I do know my way of dealing with it is very childish and unfortunately ruined a perfectly good friendship with a work colleague a few moths back (That story a few blogs back and I do mean just friendship).
We all have our own challenges in life and how we deal with them becomes part of our character, we take that with us through our journey in life and that determines which people we interact with and which we do not, where we go and where we do not go, what we do and what we don't do.
My goal for the next anniversary is well, I don't know yet apart from finishing my journey by years end perhaps next year I can help somebody else who is about to go through what I have? Perhaps I can help out somebody very close to me who I know is having difficulties with their journey, I can be that rock we all need to rest on every now and again, I had one during my journey and I was a rock for him during his and without one you will burn out.
Funny thing is I just had an epiphany when writing that last paragraph, I am truly blessed to have such understandable people in my life I never recognised it till now but the past two years my main trait that helped with my achievements was being able to put myself first and concentrate only on me and what I had to get done, even if that meant putting those I love second yes even when I should have put them first because they are going through the same journey as me.
So what happens now?
Well if everything goes to plan first day of the 2013 I begin my next journey, with the weight gone and the skin removed I will have nothing holding me back, the world truly is my oyster isn't it? The only goal I have is to help anybody I can who is serious about making a change to their life not necessarily just weight but any lifestyle change.
To begin with I am speaking at my surgeons information sessions I am also looking into motivational speaking courses and public speaking courses to perhaps see what opportunities are open in that area.
To finish up I would like to thank you, yup you reading this right now, it's because of you reading these blogs that I continue to write them and by me writing them it helps me help you? It's one of those circle situations but this time it's a good one.
To everybody I have been in contact with over the past two years since this operation of mine thank you for your support, whether it has been a like on face book an email or a comment, a conversation in the hallway at work or a meet and greet and discussion about the operation and my journey I appreciate every single one of you, I have never had this many people give a shit about anything I've ever had to say and for me to have this many people following my journey it brings a tear to my eye (no seriously I have crocodile tears right now), thank you all so much it is true kindness like yours that keeps me going day in and day out.
~Peace out
Adrian
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