the path of desire

Oprah says she’s been struggling with her weight since age 22, reaching her highest weight in 1992 at 237lbs. Since then she has taken the initiative to reform her body, as well as provide a solution for millions of other Americans to follow. During a recently aired episode, Oprah selected 10 obese American men and women to take part in a 2 month physical transformation, similar to the one she had undergone. Oprah asked one of the chosen woman in particular to explain why she never took the initiative to work out each day, even with her countless complaints about personal weight and enormous desire to moderate her body. The woman responded by telling Oprah that the one thing she wanted most for herself was to enhance her body image and live a healthier lifestyle, but she simply did not have enough time in the day to do so. Oprah then countered the woman’s response by stating “If you are not willing to put in the effort, then you don’t want it”. Apparently the woman did not care to be healthy.

It seems as though desire plays a significant role in the way we treat our bodies. As Oprah pointed out, we can reach a goal if and only if we truly desire it. Perhaps the people who maintain healthy lifestyles are the ones who will never allow themselves to stoop to a lifestyle they detest. I believe this is true, and that if you genuinely aspire a healthy physique, you will wake up before sunrise to get in a quick jog, grab the apple instead of the chips for that midnight snack, and just simply supervise the maintenance of your body. Time, sleep, or pleasure should take no toll on what you desire. They may be slight bumps in the road, but cannot be the detours that steer you from your destination.