New Shoes

| 19 June 2009

I bought a new pair of shoes today. Not much, right? But, these weren’t just any shoes. They are a major key to my future. I’ll elaborate.

I’m heavy. Fat in fact. I have been most of my life. There have been times in decades past when I lost weight and stayed at my “goal” for a year or two. I have even been at a healthy weight and actively working out (with a trainer no less) five days per week before. I looked good. But I’ve always gained it back and more.

Besides my unreserved love affair with food, I have always had other excuses. I have feet that are difficult to fit for shoes. They are Fred Flintstone feet—toes straight across, the same width from toes to heal, high instep, low arches. Not exactly a runner’s dream. Or even a walker’s.

One more thing. I’m not really outdoorsy. As a matter of fact, I hate hot, humid weather, and I despise being out in it. I live in Tennessee. It’s really hot and humid in the summer here. I’m found mostly indoors with the air conditioning vent pointed directly at me. My car is like a freezer.

I’m not an exerciser. I’m just not into dieting, working out, being healthy. What? Hello? Is this sounding a bit too transparent? You’ve not heard anything yet.

Wearing my most vulnerable personal struggle on the outside for everyone to see has been a real deal breaker for me. The thought of sitting with a coaching client or standing in front of an audience singing or speaking about how they can get the life they want seemed a bit disingenuous when there is an all-too-obvious disconnect in my own journey toward my highest and best. Or at least that is how I’ve perceived my fat issues. They have REALLY held me back.

Deep breath, Gregory.

Something is changing in me. Something that I have asked for is happening. For a while now, I’ve known that it would be a shame if I spent 50 years getting my mind, emotions and spirit in a healthy place, but then let it all go unused because my body—my home—was worn out from abuse and misuse. So I began to treat to find the will to get physically healthy and to stay that way. To find the courage to accept health as a natural part of my life.

Last August, I spoke at the Nashville Center for Spiritual Living. About a month later, a man walked up to me after a service there and asked to speak with me. His name was Mark Pruss. He has been a trainer to Olympic and professional athletes for 30 years. He has helped those whose bodies were already marvels of perfection to become even one step closer to godlike splendor. Not a bad gig.

Mark said that he had enjoyed my presentation so much that he bought the CD and that he had listened to it at least a dozen times. He told me he was starting a new company to combine diet, exercise, psychological health and spiritual principles into a wellness program. The program is called Sedona Body, and he wondered if I would be interested in developing the spiritual component and then becoming a part of the presentation team.

Take another deep breath.

Honestly, my first thought was, “Oh, there you are.” See, I knew the Universe was getting me ready for this step. And Mark was getting ready too, along with a fellow named Steve Thompson—a third member of the Sedona Body team. And then the time came. God showed up.

So, I went today to buy shoes at the store where Mark sent me—Fleet Feet. The sales folks are more than just sales staff; they are experts on fitting people to insure that they aren’t injured when exercising. Matthew, that was my sales guy, worked with me for nearly an hour before lacing me into the perfect shoes with the absolutely correct inserts. I felt giddy as I went to a beautiful local mall and walked in the frosty, air conditioned comfort all the way.

It’s nothing miraculous. But it is an amazing start. And if there is any magic, it’s that, for the first time in a long time or maybe ever, that I’m starting a program to get in shape knowing with all certainty that I will indeed get my body in line with my mind, my emotions, and my spirit. And it will stay that way. I’ve been doing the work from the inside, now is the time for the work on the outside, and the beautiful unfolding is sure to follow. I’ll keep you posted.