One of the more awesome sights you can witness is a salmon run. Your heart will swell with compassion for these determined creatures seeking mightily to return to the place of their birthing.
One part of you will be cheering for their courage and heart as they fight their way upstream-even up and over waterfalls-their skin turning color as they are dying on this one final effort--to reach the place where they were born. Finally, there, to lay the vital eggs that will carry their species on into the future.
But part of you will also be moved by a deep sorrow-for as the skin falls from their dying bodies, the poor salmon are pursued without mercy by every kind of vulture and hunter. Bears, birds, other fish and humans-all seek to gain from the bloody plight of the poor heroic salmon.
As I watched this mixed drama, I was struck with a profound awareness of its similarity to the plight of today's dieters.
The dieter too seeks just to go home-the home of their perfect weight. They also do so to give birth-the rebirth of dignity and respect. The dieter seeks the simple ability to walk the streets free of the stares and glares of condescending people. To be able to look in the mirror and see not failure reflected back, but rather one of Nature's most amazing miracles. The dieter longs to be able to sit in a moment of quietude, where the mind is not nagging and whispering "failure" . . . "loser".
More than 90% of these struggling dieters fail to reach the blissful fields of home. The stream they fight against is filled with personal monsters. From undesirable hand-me-downs of heredity to the dark psychological demons that lurk in the shadows to commercial chemical pirates who scheme to win by tampering with our food. From aging and slowing metabolisms, weary from the passing of time to war torn metabolisms, bruised and damaged from previous battles upstream in search for home.
And as millions of dieters fight their way home, they too are preyed upon by all manner of hunters and vultures. Marketers, TV hucksters, profit hungry drug companies, practitioners from a dozen professions-all shouting "Home is this way!"
This is where the salmon and the dieter part ways. The salmon at least knows where home is, the dieter does not. And there is no shortage of ruthless, money-focused minds that will gladly capitalize on this fact.
Some think that courage is the absence of fear. Courage is moving forward in spite of fear, in spite of the fact that the cards are stacked against you. The call to home for the dieter is strong. The need to succeed tugs at the dieter's deepest yearnings. Slipping into a new coat of hope and armed with renewed determination, the dieter musters the courage to once again step to the front line.
To all you dieters everywhere, I bow to you and your will to keep trying. You are in truth, unsung heroes. For each and every one of you, I sincerely hope you find the peace of home for which you yearn. - 15683
One part of you will be cheering for their courage and heart as they fight their way upstream-even up and over waterfalls-their skin turning color as they are dying on this one final effort--to reach the place where they were born. Finally, there, to lay the vital eggs that will carry their species on into the future.
But part of you will also be moved by a deep sorrow-for as the skin falls from their dying bodies, the poor salmon are pursued without mercy by every kind of vulture and hunter. Bears, birds, other fish and humans-all seek to gain from the bloody plight of the poor heroic salmon.
As I watched this mixed drama, I was struck with a profound awareness of its similarity to the plight of today's dieters.
The dieter too seeks just to go home-the home of their perfect weight. They also do so to give birth-the rebirth of dignity and respect. The dieter seeks the simple ability to walk the streets free of the stares and glares of condescending people. To be able to look in the mirror and see not failure reflected back, but rather one of Nature's most amazing miracles. The dieter longs to be able to sit in a moment of quietude, where the mind is not nagging and whispering "failure" . . . "loser".
More than 90% of these struggling dieters fail to reach the blissful fields of home. The stream they fight against is filled with personal monsters. From undesirable hand-me-downs of heredity to the dark psychological demons that lurk in the shadows to commercial chemical pirates who scheme to win by tampering with our food. From aging and slowing metabolisms, weary from the passing of time to war torn metabolisms, bruised and damaged from previous battles upstream in search for home.
And as millions of dieters fight their way home, they too are preyed upon by all manner of hunters and vultures. Marketers, TV hucksters, profit hungry drug companies, practitioners from a dozen professions-all shouting "Home is this way!"
This is where the salmon and the dieter part ways. The salmon at least knows where home is, the dieter does not. And there is no shortage of ruthless, money-focused minds that will gladly capitalize on this fact.
Some think that courage is the absence of fear. Courage is moving forward in spite of fear, in spite of the fact that the cards are stacked against you. The call to home for the dieter is strong. The need to succeed tugs at the dieter's deepest yearnings. Slipping into a new coat of hope and armed with renewed determination, the dieter musters the courage to once again step to the front line.
To all you dieters everywhere, I bow to you and your will to keep trying. You are in truth, unsung heroes. For each and every one of you, I sincerely hope you find the peace of home for which you yearn. - 15683
About the Author:
Stephen Bartlay is a researcher and writer. Plagued by a faulty metabolism from birth, discovering the secrets of successful weight control has become Stephen's passion. He is sharing what he has learned on his website. Stephen, the author of "Binge Busters - Special Report", extends to you his personal invitation to visit him at http://WhyWeight.info to discover new insights that will help you in your own efforts at weight control.
