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I work at a community gym and I work in a family room where I see all different kinds of kids and people. This room has Wii's, exercise bikes, arts and crafts. It's basically a room where people can come together.
On Sundays, when I normally work, its not busy at all. Who wants to go to a gym on a Sunday night? But today was a little different.
I met a amazing lady who really changed the way I see things now. For now lets call her J. So J is about 60 years old and probably around 300 lbs. She would come to the family room because the exercise bikes are the only ones that fit her. She is such an outgoing person so we started talking and before I knew it an hour had past by. She had an amazing story...
The first thing she said to me was that she hadn't painted her nails in about 10 years and there she was with her nails painted. She told me that she is really trying to look good and become happy again. She had told me she bought herself a swimsuit and by this summer was going to look good in it. She told me that during the summer she would go swimming at our local pool, but she said she didn't want to do it anymore because of her daughter. Her daughter hates J. Why? Because J doesn't approve of her daughters lifestyle. J's daughter is a 40 year old women who drinks, doesn't provide for her children ( basically neglects their needs) and is dating a 24 year old man. If that's not enough the boyfriend mentally abuses the kids and her grand kids are failing school and becoming depressed.
J started crying a few times while she was talking to me. J also told me that she has tried being the best grandma she could be to her grand kids, but her daughter was messing it up. J had volunteered at her grand kids school for about 2 years. She would organize all the dances and decorate the hallways, so she could be with her grandchildren, until her daughter messed it up. J's daughter then called the school and had J fired .
At this point in the conversation I started crying for her. J also started telling me a story about 4 years back. Her daughter showed up at J's house and told her mom that she had brain tumors. Of course being a loving mom J broke down crying and said that she would do anything to help get through it. The daughter then said she needed her kids to be babysat a lot and that she need about $850 towards the surgery. J then took out loans and used a lot of her own money towards getting the money. The daughter signed a waver that stated she had so much time to pay back the money. Come to find out that the daughter never had brain tumors and she never paid back the $850 and still hasn't.
I also came to find out that J was mentally abused when she was little and her sibbilings grew up to hate her and try and pick fights with her. J also works 3 jobs. 2 shifts as a nurse and 1 job cleaning houses. May I remind you she is a 300 lb lady doing all of this.
J is such a sweet, talkative and talented lady and I don't know why her life has to be like this. It makes me sad that I can't do anything to help her. Even though I have only talked to her twice I still feel like I can tell her anything, and I have. I had even told her about some of my weight struggles and she wrote down a list of things I should eat to help keep my weight down. Things she has been doing that have worked for her. At the bottom of the paper she wrote me a little note...
" Believe, believe. Make your dream a reality. Let god light the way!"
and she left her phone number for me to call her if I had any questions about the food list she had given me.
That note now hangs on my mirror and I feel as if J was brought to me for some reason and that was to help me get through all the things I am now.
Some people are brought into your life for a reason and I believe J was one of them.
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