The Exponential Value of a Friend

Today I saw a brief clip of a morning news show where they had experts dicussing how to lose weight. They were chatting about how one of the most essentials helps is to have a buddy.

A buddy to listen to your goals, share her goals, listen to your successes and failures and share hers. Shoot the breeze, build you up, be there when you fall and be on the same journey.

I have found the same to be true. Ten years ago when my boys were little I ran. In Ohio. It is COLD in Ohio. But I had a buddy and we both had little ones, so we had to run before our husbands went to work. That meant 5:45 am. Every day. And we did it! We talked during our runs, and shared and had a common goal. The other moms on our block thought we were nuts.

Fast forward to last summer--- an old friend, from that same Ohio neighborhood (one of the ones who thought I was nuts for running in the pre dawn hours) and I connected. She wanted to get back into shape. So did I. We began.

She is in Virginia, I am in Texas. We email almost every day. She has done great and reached many goals, and so have I. We share successes and failures, eating and working out and all the stuff of life that affects us, such as her son's marriage and my dog's recent trip to the vet.

It is life.. and it has been fun to have a partner.

So... I am suggesting that if you are embarking on some new goals.. consider finding a partner.. it makes the trip so much more fun.