Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. --Arthur Ashe If you are getting down on yourself because of your weight, STOP it right now. It's not productive and, in the long run, will likely sabotage your weight-loss and healthy life-style plan. Your weight has little to do with what's between your ears and in your heart. Your weight is what it is, nothing more. Never mind what other people and Madison Avenue say about what someone should weigh. Just vow to start where you are now, without negative judgments about your weight. So begin your plan (whatever it is) with a good attitude and good feelings about yourself. Don't begin it as an angry person about to kill bear. Instead, take stock of what's right in your life by making a list of your blessings: children, spouse, career, friends, etc. You see, in the past, I would "go on a diet" with negative feelings, gritted teeth, and a lot of anger at myself, always the same question

Jennifer Semple, age 16, 1966 Reverse of the above photograph _____________________________ Oh the innocent girl in her maiden teens knows perfectly well what everything means. --D. H. Lawrence Very few people like their school photographs, but I was absolutely floored when I ran across the above photo. As photos go, it's no better or worse than any other high school photo, but the message of self-loathing on its reverse really saddens me, for it reminds me how troubled I was as a teen. Context: I was planning to send this photo to Hans, a German penpal, but I must have thought better of it (or, perhaps, he did send it back--I don't remember--if so, then shame on him). The text on the reverse: Hans, I know this photo is absolutely shocking, Please bear with it: It's awful, & I look like a blimp in it, & if you don't like it, send it back. Tell me if you don't like it. Bless my late grandmother Mo (or Moo), who made this notation: Cute Moo I'm sure that

The Webmaster, March 2010, Skopje, Macedonia Photo by Eric Brown. He's my son, so I don't need his permission. If he gives me any guff, I'll cut him out of my will. :=O _______________________________________ Don't allow your fat to stop you from living life to the fullest. What are you waiting for? Embrace who you are now because tomorrow may not come. Yes, a cliche, but very true. Last year, I was about 35 pounds heavier than I am now (see above photo), but I'm not about to diss that person just because she was obese, for she had a lot going for her: She was on a Fulbright, one of the most prestigious awards a professor or college instructor can receive, teaching Creative Writing and American Literature at the University of Skopje, in Macedonia. She simply decided that her fat was NOT going to be a stumbling block to her Fulbright year. She was probably in the fittest shape ever, for she walked everywhere, including the two-mile walk to (and back from) her univer