Peanuts In My Pocket

I’ve lost a lot of weight over the last three years. So much so that my life has changed in ways that are hard to describe. This one, however, is simple.

A few years ago, before retirement, when I was working in and around factories, I needed a new pair of safety shoes every year or so. I have a vivid and somewhat shameful memory of not being able to tie my shoes while sitting down. I was simply too fat to reach over my belly with both hands, even while seated.

I resorted to tying my shoes while they were off my feet, then jamming my feet into them afterward. It was undignified and embarrassing, but after decades of obesity, I had grown used to it. I didn’t think I had any other choice.

Fast forward to last Friday.

I’m now more than 150 pounds lighter and in vastly better shape. My wife and I had just finished watching the latest Spider-Man movie when we stopped at the restroom before heading home. While washing my hands, I noticed one of my shoes had come untied.

Without thinking about it, I bent over while standing and tied it.

It was easy. For most people, it wouldn’t have been worth noticing.

The enormity of that simple act hit me as I walked out to join my wife. It had been more than 30 years since I was able to tie my shoes while standing. Yet there I was, doing it without effort and without giving it a second thought.

I couldn’t stop smiling. I even demonstrated my newfound talent for my wife.

I’ve been thinking about that moment ever since.

My life has changed so much over the last few years. Retirement has given me time. Weight loss has given me mobility. Together, they’ve given me back pieces of my life that I thought were gone forever.

I’m still working toward losing another 50 pounds. At my heaviest, I was more than 200 pounds overweight.

Never again.

I like tying my own shoes.