I found Never Say Never: Finding a Life That Fits
to be a rather decent one and definitely wasn’t what I was expecting when I picked it up. Yes, I am one of those readers who has the tendency to judge a book by it’s cover and/or title. If I see a lot of hype being made about a book, I’ll grab it as well most likely.
This book opened up several old wounds for me because Ricki also endured sexual abuse, and she talks about her struggle with dealing with it throughout the book. She also talks about how she also put on weight as a shield to protect her as well as a way to comfort her. To this day, I still wear my shield, and every time I start to make some honest to goodness progress with it I end up right back in my rut of wanting to put it all back on and sneak and eat everything I can get my hands on. I’m currently right back in a size 20, and I can’t go any bigger because we got rid of all of my bigger size clothes. So, I have to literally work on losing weight in order to wear my clothes comfortably.
Like Ricki, it’s very hard for me to feel like any man can love me regardless of my size. My first husband went through utter hell with me because I could not accept that he loved me regardless whether I was a size 8 and solid as a rock like I was on the day we got married compared to the size 22 and total flab I turned into by the time we were married two years. Like Ricki, I had a mom who drilled it into my head just how much weight plays a toll in how people determine your worth.
What makes it said, is both of our parents are right on the money in that concept. It’s like people think that because a person is obese they become helpless or totally lazy. The only time I’m truly lazy honestly is when I’m depressed as all get out or I’ve already been on my ankle for well over 10 hours. Otherwise, despite my size, I can still keep up with the average person. I’m not going to say I can run marathons or anything like that. However, news flash even when I was at my perfect size and able to lift 150 pounds like it was nothing but a grain of salt, I still couldn’t run a marathon. When I go in for a job interview, people see my weight and automatically I feel like I’m getting judged before I utter a word.
Over the course of the past now twelve years I’ve come to have a better understanding for those who are disabled in some form or fashion. I have also gained a bigger understanding for those who suffer with addictions than I already had. God places us through tests in order to make testimonies. Ricki’s book is a testimony, and I have even started my full fledged book as a result of her book. Our stories are similar yet also very different.
Life does have lots of twists and turns. When we allow God to heal our lives and also follow his guidance he gives a life that is complete full and worth living.
Never Say Never: Finding a Life That Fits is a good read. However, so far no biography has beat out Dolly Parton’s!! Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business
was filled with lots of laughs, tears, and so much information, and I read it going on twenty years ago and still remember it like I read it yesterday.
Thanks for sharing about this book. I too am a survivor of sexual abuse and I am obese. I may just have to check this book out.
I think with your background you can relate to Ricky Lake’s story quite well. I personally could that’s for sure. Did you happen to see my post about weight being a form of protection?
I could see how this would be a great read for everyone and an inspiration for those going through the same trials that Ricki did. I’m glad you were able to review it and that you have allowed God to heal you.
God is still working on healing me. If I would let him do his job more it may help.
sounds like an encouraging read for any of us– so often we make assumptions about others and even ourselves and how we should look, live, and respond to situations– great opportunity for us to see from a different perspective
This is a really awesome book. I was pleasantly surprised by it.