Choosing to Reset

On February 7, 2024/I received this email:

Hi Karen, 

I’m an editor at Woman’s World Magazine and I was introduced to your Instagram page by our editor-in-chief who loved your content. I’ve been enjoying your IG posts, too…

So, I’m emailing because we’re working on a story about how leisurely, not fast walking can be beneficial for weight loss. Did you experience weight loss and health benefits from your daily walks and if so, could you describe the changes for us? Would you be willing to participate in a story for the magazine? Let me know and I can send you some additional information about what would come next.

Wow! I was blown away. I answered her questions and made the assumption that I would be quoted in an article and that would be awesome.

I got a request for information like my name, age, and address and thought that was for the permission to use my quote.

Fast forward to February 23:

My husband my husband and I were in Home Depot buying a refrigerator for one of our rental units. The young man who is the tenant had offered to help get it upstairs with my husband but he was about to go to work. Buying a refrigerator quickly ( so he didn’t have to get it upstairs alone) was top on my husband’s list. I only had one job. Pick the fridge quickly. While waiting for one of the refrigerators to be lowered with a forklift, my phone notified me that I had an email from the editor. Of course I clicked on it and was shocked to see that it was an article, not a quote and it was great!

Here is the article that is in the April 1, 2024 edition:

Last summer, Karen Smithson saw a photo of herself and did a double take. She squinted at out-of-shape woman in the image. “I just hadn’t realized how much I let myself go,” says former high school principal, 62. Always been one to take swift action, “I committed to walking every morning for 15 minutes.” What wasn’t so swift: Her pace. “I wasn’t pushing myself to go a certain distance. I just wanted to get my heart rate up,” she shares. “It didn’t take much.”

She began posting daily Instagram videos of her walks in the pretty Texas countryside, never going too fast to talk about her experiences and offer encouragement to others. “I asked a few friends to follow me for accountability,” she recalls. Fast forward 8 months: Over 48,000 folks are tracking her progress on @choosing_to_reset. Many say Karen has inspired them to walk for better health too. “It makes my heart so happy,” she smiles.

Not only has Karen gone from a tight size 12 to a comfy size 8, she now easily walks for an hour a day and has the stamina for strength training. “I have muscles for the first time in my life!” She also has great bloodwork. “My doctor messaged me to ask what I was doing to get my cholesterol down.” Karen’s advice to others: “Don’t worry about being perfect. Just start moving. That’s all it takes to see some really amazing changes!”

Y’all.

I could not focus on the refrigerators. I couldn’t even get a coherent sentence out. How does something like this happen to an ordinary person like me?

My husband on the other hand was laser focused on the fridge, and making sure he didn’t have to muscle it upstairs alone. I was crying, trying to get him to look at my phone, and in total shock.

Finally I picked the refrigerator for the garage apartment and I cried happy tears all the way to the checkout register where the clerk asked me if I was okay. I told her I was fine. It was so embarrassing.

To make matters worse I sent this message to the person responsible for the article:

I sent that to a very busy, very important person. So embarrassing. Note to self: Don’t message people while crying in Home Depot.

And then, I forgot to hit send on an email with my address to Woman’s World which meant I didn’t have the magazine the day it was released.

I will never ever understand how things like this happen but I know for sure that it never ever would have happened without you guys cheering me on. Your holding me accountable and encouraging me is how I have been able to get my health and life in better order. Thank you!

Thank you all for everything. For the support, the kind words, the joy you bring to @choosing_to_reset.

Thank you,

I love to hear from you,

Karen