Most of us spend our whole lives trying to obtain all the happiness we can get in life. Whether its money that's makes us happy, a significant other, a family, spirituality, life of traveling and adventure. Whatever it is that you strive for, we all as humans are looking, no, PURSUING never ending happiness. After watching the hit movie The Secret, I've realized there truly is a secret ingredient to a full happily ever after life. And the funny thing is.... Its really not a secret at all. The secret ingredient has been around for many many years. Most of us though pass over it without even realizing it. The other day my husband and I cuddled on the couch and popped in Dream Works, Kung Fu Panda. Yes, I am 23 years old and a children's movie is one of my all time favorite movies. I am not too proud to admit that I also named my dog Poe after the main character from Kung Fu Panda. If you haven't seen it I highly recommend you rent it and watch it. One word. Epic. Anyways... The movie starts out as Poe, a Panda who dreams of being a Kung Fu master,wakes up each day working with his father, a goose, who owns a noodle restaurant, the best in the village I might add. Poe's father has a secret recipe that he wishes to pass on to his son to continue his legacy. You can tell Poe isn't living the life he truly wants. He isn't miserable, he has a loving father but being "noodle folk" doesn't make his heart sing. Kung Fu does. There is an announcement throughout the village that the Kung Fu master will be announcing who is to be the Dragon Warrior. The Dragon Warrior receives the Dragon Scroll which is said to contain limitless power. Only one person is chosen for this gift. Through a strange and humorous series of events, Poe is chosen to be the Dragon Warrior, even though many feel he is undeserving and unfit to contain such power. The movie continues on Poe and his journey to becoming the Dragon Warrior and once he receives the scroll he finds that there is nothing and the only thing you see is a reflection. Everyone decides to flee because the villain is on his way to destroy the village and the Dragon Scroll was their only hope. Poe returns to his father and is clearly upset that he couldn't be the warrior everyone wanted. His father decides to cheer him up to tell him the secret ingredient for the noodle soup. The secret is..... Nothing.
Wait, what?
He explains that you don't need an ingredient to make it special you just have to believe its special. Its that statement that Poe realizes that the secret to the scroll is The reflection is special, he is special. He then goes on to save the village as the dragon warrior.
That was when I realized, we all have seen or heard movies, tv shows, plays, legends, myths with the secret. That anything is possible if you just believe! But for some reason we think these things can't apply to us. We can't obtain our dreams. That's not the real world. Well I'm here to tell you yes it is possible, if you think you can. You know the little engine that could? I think I can, I think I can. And guess what? He did get over that mountain. We all program ourselves that believing doesn't really work. That normal people can't live their wildest dreams. That my friend is where you are wrong. We can do anything we set our minds to, if you just have unwavering faith that it will happen. I have personal experience that testifies that when you believe anything is possible.
About three years ago I participated on a tv show called The Biggest Loser. I was on season 11 with my father, Moses. Ever since the show I always get asked, what's the secret? How do you lose all of that weight in that little time? Is it the trainers? Is there some secret diet? Workout routine? And I give the same answer, there is no secret we all know how to do it. Then I hear oh, but I can't do what you did because of this and this. But then I will hear of people who were inspired and lost just as much or more than contestants do. So how is it that people who are at home who have even less time and less resources accomplish the same goals? They use the secret. They believe they can. When I stepped on that ranch for Biggest Loser we all knew without a doubt that we would lose weight, and we did. The magic of the show is believing it works. But I'm going to tell you something they don't like to tell you. A large amount of contestants will gain all their weight back or more. Why is that? Didn't we have it all handed to us. Weren't we fixed? You can ask any contestant, we are not fixed we still struggle. I am one of those that gained their weight back. And I'm not proud of it but I realized something. When I came home I didn't believe I had the time or money to keep up that life style. I didn't believe I could be like that all the time, and guess what? All those negative thoughts became reality. I created the reality of being strong and fit by believing I could and by believing that the magic is only on the Biggest Loser campus, I failed at home. I spent the last few years feeling sorry for myself and ashamed, but ever since I realized that the secret is within me, I can choose to be that person again without biggest loser, it has given me a new look on life. It was that realization that inspired me to write this blog. If I could touch at least one person and help them not to give up on their dreams. It would all be worth it. So here I am exposed. I have been so scared to come out and admit my failure but I will tell you this. I have never felt more free in my entire life. So here is to believing in a better tomorrow. Join me and together we can change our lives to be so much more. Leave comments, ask questions. I'm here for you, and I hope I can learn from you too. Until next time, in the timeless words of Journey, DONT STOP BELIEVING!!!!
Wow. You nailed it kaylee. The secret is oneself. I have to add that support plays a big part of it too. Being on the biggest loser, we were all sure to lose weight because we were surrounded by support everywhere we went. The problem is that its not the real world. Coming back to our real lives was something we had been struggling for years before the show and now we were back in it.
ReplyDeleteI struggle each day with my weight since the show and fight to have a little control of it. I've gained about half of what i lost on the show, granted i intentionally put much more muscle back on me, but gained more fat back on too.
But i continue to fight for it each day hoping to get back to even less than my finale weight. I know i can do this because i have always known that i'm the secret, but i also have the loving support of my dear wife as well as so many people in my corner from my family, friends, fans and my work.
I can see the love that kaylee and sterling have for each other and know that through their own belief in oneself and each other, anything is possible. U were our superstar on the show, and no one could keep up, so i know what you can do when you choose to do it.
Thank you Kaylee for opening yourself up to us. I am one of those that have watched Biggest Loser (and other weightloss shows) for years and have gone to many open castings in hopes that this time was my turn. I find myself saying "if only I would be chosen...than I could lose weight and be happy." and then everytime I am not chosen, I accept this as defeat and continue with my unhealthy lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteI needed to hear what you said in this. We only see what happens on the ranch and up until the finale but, do not see follow-ups and people's struggles once that is all over with. Once there are not any cameras or money for motivation. It is refreshing to know that they too struggle with everyday things and that they are just like me, someone who not only struggle with food and exersize but also with self image.
Kaylie, I want you to know that when you say "If I could touch at least one person and help them not to give up on their dreams. It would all be worth it." I am that person that you are refering to. Just reading this today has given me a renewed sense of hope. I am going to do this and I am going to love myself! Thank you so much for this!
I enjoyed reading this. Society tries to control how we feel about ourselves by how we look. Whether we lose weight or gain weight being happy shouldn't be about how we look. It should be more about how we treat others and what type of person we are in character rather than in looks. But let's be honest, no matter how much we try not to let what people think affect us it still affects us. Knowing "the secret" is half the battle, not giving up is the other half. I look forward to reading more of your blog entries. I also enjoyed reading the comments from your dad and Marva Johnson. Very touching.
ReplyDeleteWow Kaylee thank you for sharingthe hope to believe in yourself, I am proud that you didn't give up! I understand some things about your health has been a struggle for me because I have been sick so much I tried everything to get better and I am now find a new way to be healthy again. I have to tell you, that without a doubt you will change the blog for sure what you say and do? Because I have to tell you are one my biggest hero, I admire & I look up too. Please keep writing the blog I like to hear more from you? Thank you for telling us your struggle in your life it has help me in everyway.
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