I was a bit nervous about going to this WW meeting. First, because I knew I had to make the commitment to myself and I was afraid I would let myself down. Second, because the location of the meeting was not ideal. We don't have meetings in my town. Plus this meeting was the only day and time that I could attend.
The meeting took place inside of a church like many of them do.Usually a basement, which is what I assumed this one to be. My expectations of what a church would look like differed from this particular site. We have beautiful white churches in our town with big steeples. I figured it would not look exactly like those, but I thought it would still look like a church. Or rather, what I was used to. I actually drove right by it and then did a double take. When I lived in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston for many years, there were these storefront churches that always seemed a bit sketchy and voo doo. So when I turned around into the small lot to a similar looking 'stand alone' building, I was a little weary. Naturally the building abutted a trailer park--in which a shirtless dude was mowing his 'lawn.' There was also a dumpster in the corner of the lot with a ton of garbage...you know, like rusty old bed frames and the like. I was unsure if the trash belonged to the church or the trailer park.
It was a tiny building...more like a mobile home (hmmm...maybe there is a connection between the church and the trailer park...like its followers all live there;) ) with no less than 5 entrances. Most of them with wooden ramps for wheelchairs...which seemed kind of strange since it was all one level. Anyway, the only thing that got me in the place was the fact that the other cars in the lot were all normal, if not nicer cars (but not too nice or I would have been even more freaked out.) It took me 3 doors before I found the right one.
I walked in, signed up and went into a tiny little chapel room with about 12 chairs and a raised platform. The people all looked normal and behaved normally. The leader was fantastic. Because the meeting was so small, it was like she was talking to you (okay, I was feeling vulnerable so maybe it just felt that way.) Bonus: I did not know anyone. I feel right now this is a private journey (I feel ridiculous using that word--journey. I cringe when others use it with regard to weight loss, but I didn't want to take the time to figure out a different word.) It has been about 4 years since I have gained all of this weight. I have been talking about losing weight to people I know--family, friends, people in stores, people at kids' school, neighbors, etc--for so long and have actually gained weight that I need to do this quietly.
No one talked about how to fit their twinkies or fast food into their points. People seemed serious to be there. Really, this is not a location that you would just go to for the fun of it. Also, it is not near any stores unlike my last location so you would not tag it onto other errands like I used to.
I feel better already.
I am reclaiming myself.
