Brett,

What is your deal?  Who do you think you are fooling?  You certainly aren’t fooling me…  At least you aren’t fooling me anymore.  You always tell me that you are happy, that you really like who you are, and in most respects, I believe you.  I know that you are happy with your job; you are happy with your friends; you are happy with your family…  But Brett, you are not happy with yourself, and you know why.  You know that your weight is the biggest challenge you face.  You have overcome so many things!  You have come out as gay to a family that has strong opinions regarding homosexuality.  You have graduated from college, and you have already lost a lot of weight.  You have become a valued mentor to countess others, and you are treasured beyond comprehension by so many people yet you choose to live in a way that is utterly unacceptable, and you are suffering.  I know you are suffering.  I can see it in your face, and in the smiles that you force.  Nothing about changing your life is going to be easy, but the price of doing nothing is too much, and the price of doing SOMETHING is so little.  It seems like an easy decision, so just make it.  You thrive in the idea that all complex situations, no matter how overwhelming, are nothing more than a series of simple tasks or changes.  Well the challenge that faces you is nothing more than the same series of simple matters that need your attention.  It is really quite simple.  You do not have to kill yourself on a tough diet.  You have to just monitor yourself.  Keep in mind what you want and make sure that nothing that can hinder progress in your goals is allowed in your life.  I have watched you grow from an introverted outcast in grade-school to a social butterfly in College, you have become a better person and I concede that you are much happier now than you were as a teenager.  But you are in your twenties now, and if you aren’t careful, the opportunities to have the life that you want will pass you by faster than you can imagine, and I know that you could not live with yourself if you let something like your weight hold you back.  You know what you want, you know what to do, and you know what it will take.  You just have to do it…  and be strong.  The next 6 months are going to be tough, but I know that you will be able to accomplish your goals, and you will have the life you want…  the life you truly deserve.

Love Always,

Brett