Food for Thought

My Grandmother, one of the strong women I strive to be like. She has influenced generations.

Have you seen the series on NBC, "Who Do You Think You Are?" The show takes celebrities on a journey of self-discovery by researching their genealogy. I've only caught bits and pieces of it, but I'm fascinated with the idea. Learning who you are by learning where you came from. A combination of things have got me thinking about this lately: Memorial Day, the upcoming family reunion season, and a recent trip I took to see some historical sites. I've been reflecting on who came before me and how my family tree has shaped a lot of who I am.

I've been thinking about my Great-Grandma Mathews. She died in 2008 at the age of 96. She was a strong woman, definitely IFC material. Even in her final years she insisted on shaking hands with every male in his prime so she could show off her strong grip. She was a nurse, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother and a great-great-grandmother. I think about her life, full and happy. She inspires me. I am blessed to have a heritage of strong women, one of them pictured above. I have a lot to live up to.

As I think about these women, I wonder, "What legacy am I leaving?" I want my daughter to see her mother as a healthy, happy woman living a full life with enough energy to give service to others. When I think about why I exercise and why I try to eat right, that is the answer. It's not to look like a skinny model on the cover of a magazine. It's a legacy I'm leaving. That is so much more motivating to me.

As you think about your fitness goals, remember why we do what we do. What legacy are you leaving?

-Michelle