Failure is a success, if we learn from it

I can't believe it's been almost a year. Almost a year since I started on my journey of growth and change. I look back, and I see the struggle and I'm proud of the success I've made.
I year ago, I was disappointed with myself, with my life, with everything. I was miserable, lonely, depressed. I was eating out of boredom, consuming my emotions with every bite, rather than looking in the mirror and deciding to do something about it.
July 22, I decided to do something about it.
I met with a therapist. I met with a personal trainer.
I started to care again. I started to fix myself.
320 days later... I'm happy. Granted, I have my days when it's hard to get out of bed, face the sun, accept that I'm single and coming up on my 32nd birthday... (bitter hostility and sarcasm are implied)
However, I'm not alone. I'm surrounded by the best friends. Granted, I lost a few along the way, but I've accepted that if they were true friends, the bullshit that I had going on would have faded and our friendship would be strong... unfortunately, the bullshit faded along with our friendship, and rather than keep the dead weight, I cut the ties.
I've picked up some new friends, which happen to be co-workers/team mates... I smile a lot most days.
I laugh. I cherish hugs, I always will. I still worry way too much for my own good, but I worry about real stuff, not stuff I can't change. I have accepted that goodbyes are part of life.
My mother sold my wedding dress, I guess I should say, she is in the process of selling it... the first weekend it was at the consignment shop, a young bride tried it on and loved it far more than I ever did. I should have known then- I settled on the man, I settled on the dress. Never again.
I'm a part of something phenomenal- still in the early stages, but it's sure to change lives, change communities, and change the way I see the world, and I can't wait. (Sparrow Clubs Indiana)
I love my family. I'm still not completely on my own two feet, but I'm getting there. I haven't spoken to the dried up sponge for almost 9 months... give or take. I wish he would come into some money and pay off the remainder of the loan with my father. (I still struggle with what business to put my nose, and with what business should I remove it)
I set up a reward system for my weight loss... bribery works for children, it works for horses, it works for me, too.
I rewarded myself with a new pair of gym shoes when I lost my first 10%
I re-calculated... when I loose the next 10%, there's another reward. So on and so forth... 
I'm 4 lbs from my second reward. I have a knock-off Coach purse, but I want the real thing. In 4 lbs, its mine.
Hopefully, I will also soon be the owner of a pair of John Fluevog shoes, because my fourth reward is a vacation to Cabo- and that is booked... so, I need to get the ball rolling again.  I have 45 to loose before I leave for Cabo on November 12. 22 weeks... not much time for screwing up or getting on/off the bandwagon.  I've got to loose 2 lbs/week.
Better hop back on my treadmill! :)