An Open Heart and a New Perspective

You wouldn’t believe how often complete strangers comment on what’s in my grocery cart.
 
It happens so much that when I buy my son chocolate chip cookies I hide them under toilet paper. That’s exactly what I was doing today when a man spotted them and said in a singsong voice; “Oh the exercise lady has chocolate chip cookies in her cart, that’s not good for you.”

Once I was waiting on the checkout line with butter pecan ice cream and a lady behind me said, “Look what you have in your cart. Surely to goodness you’re not eating that.”

Another day I was reaching for a sports drink and another customer said to me, “How could you drink that sugary junk?”
 
On the Fourth of July I was in a coffee shop with some friends. A woman I barely know came up to me and told me everything she had eaten that whole week. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” my friend said. “Does this happen to you often?” Yes.

A man once came up to me and told me he had a broken toe and asked me what he should do about it. (Don’t walk on it!)
 
In my small Kentucky town I’m the visible face of fitness. I’m on the radio, on TV,  I write a newspaper column and I teach exercise classes. I’m pigeonholed as the perfect fitness person.
 
But it makes me wonder how often I see people superficially and judgmentally. My minister’s wife—do I assume she has a rewarding prayer life? My children’s athletic friends from good families—do I take for granted that they are immune to peer pressure? My husband the insurance agent—do I expect that it is effortless for him to be stable and responsible?
 
My grocery cart experiences remind me to see people for who they really are. It takes effort—I think of it as a spiritual exercise to consciously open my heart to others.

Everyone has insecurities, makes mistakes, and needs kindness, support and encouragement on life’s journey, even the people that seem like they have it all together.

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Get more advice from Theresa!

Find all you need to know on whole-person
wellness in Shaped by Faith.

Theresa is a former model and nationally certified fitness professional who teaches people to use their faith to inspire fitness and their fitness to strengthen their faith. She is the author of Shaped by Faith: 10 Secrets to Strengthening your Body & Soul, and two exercise DVDS: Pilates for the Soul and Strength Training for the Seasoned Soul.

She and her husband, Robin, have seven children and live in Calhoun, Kentucky.

You can email her with any questions or concerns.

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