Barbara J. Hamby

Guilt Assuaged

From time to time since I moved from Vancouver to Tigard I’ve felt pangs of guilt for not jumping into volunteering as I had when I lived there. But something I learned today will help clear that up for me.

When I joined T.O.P.S. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) sixteen months ago, it was for purely selfish reasons. I wanted the support and ideas that would help me take off weight. I got that and have lost twenty-five pounds. I need to lose at least five more to be at my goal weight, but I’m sure I’ll accomplish that eventually.

Today the program for our T.O.P.S. meeting was a report by the Oregon State Coordinator for the organization. She told us about the International Recognition Days, an annual gathering to celebrate the successes of members from around the world. This year it was held in Orlando, Florida at Walt Disney World.

As part of her report, she mentioned that T.O.P.S. has donated, since its inception in 1948, more than six million dollars to obesity research. So now I know, once again, I’m contributing not only money (not very much), but time to a worthy cause. Obesity is a huge epidemic and we need to know how to fight it.