And the winner is....... Better than the Oscars!

4th February 2017

The more you are thankful.  The more you attract things to be thankful for.

WOW, just wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, I'm sat here with a ridiculous smile on my face, there's tears in my eyes too - why?  Because last night I got the ultimate award from Weight Watchers and I couldn't be happier, I'm actually so happy I think I might burst.

I was in my meeting last night, we'd almost finished, I was about to say goodbye to my members and in walk 6 people from Weight Watchers, one's holding a big bunch of flowers, one's the main man, my manager starts with, "Hello everybody, sorry to interrupt your meeting..."   They then presented me with the very coveted Jean Nidetch award 2016, well I can't really say much, I'm crying again, so watch the video, it says it all.

https://www.facebook.com/zoe.lysandrou/videos/10155201489362150/?pnref=story

I'm not good at taking myself too seriously, I just have the best job ever and I get paid to do it, I don't think I do anything particular special that so many leaders and people do too day in, day out, so I'll type a bit of the letter that was given to me so try and explain how awesome this award is, and how absolutely overwhelmed, thrilled and just ridiculously happy I am to have received it;

"We are delighted to confirm you are a 2016 Jean Nidetch Leader.

You have been presented with this special award in recognition of your tireless passion for Weight Watchers, your unending dedication to member success and also for the positive behaviours you role model to others throughout our business.

This award is truly special and is as unique as you are...., so you should be immensely proud of what you have achieved, well done."

I was so glad my mom and one of my oldest and dearest friends had been there to witness it, Vicky and I met in that room almost 13 years ago, we were both members back then, that made it extra special for it to have been presented to me in the room I lost my weight, achieved my goal and did my final assessment to become a Weight Watcher leader, how wonderful.

I cried all the way home, I also realised some of those tears were from a realisation that I was finally really, really, good at something!  I've always felt I was good at a lot of stuff but I didn't excel in anything.  I wasn't the best student at school, illness in my early senior years meant I missed out on a lot of schooling then I lost interest, so I left school without any qualifications (got me a few since).  My last role, almost 13 years ago, really knocked my confidence I didn't feel qualified to do it at all, it wasn't the job I'd started with at that company, I felt like a fraud in the role, like I wasn't good enough!  Which is why I left before I lost the plot!  I took a huge risk and it was worth it, the best decision I've ever made.  Not in this role though, I don't feel like that as a Weight Watcher coach, in this one I can smile knowing I found my fit, it's confirmation I'm actually quite good at what I do. Last night as I remembered the words that were said as they gave me my awards, as I read all the kind, wonderful words and comments on Facebook, I felt just amazing, they had all made my evening even so special.   I actually think I will float into work today!

I never do anything for the reward of it, it's never about what people might think, or what I might get - I do what I do because I love it, I behave the way I behave because I believe you should be the best version of yourself that you can be. I am this way because I feel blessed to have the life I have, the best mom in the world (sorry folks she's better than everyone's, yours might be pretty awesome, but mine....) , I know the best people and I'm just so grateful to have been thanked for being me - I really can't tell you how that feels, not just for being me but for being the real me, the version I never really showed people for so many years, I was always trying to be a different version or someone else, then one day I joined Weight Watchers, became a leader (coach now) and realised people like the real me.

Let's all embrace being ourselves, accepting that we're all pretty awesome, of course we're striving to be the best version of ourselves, the healthiest and the happiest version, not forgetting the kindest, I think last night proves you get back what you give out.

I'm going to have to stop typing because I'm covered in tears, I'm going to look a mess when I go to work if I don't, eyes all puffy ;)

Thank you for being part of my life however large or small, even if we've never met, I love that Facebook helps us to interact. 

Oh I'm going, I'm just buzzing, I could waffle on for hours, I'm just soooooo happy.  Can you believe I couldn't celebrate with a glass of the good stuff because I'm doing Dry for Dementia!  I did enjoy a mug of tea, then a cup of hot chocolate though, I didn't need alcohol if I'm honest, nothing could've given me the buzz that award has.

Never one to miss an opportunity, knowing I resisted a tipple to celebrate, you could give me another quid for my charity ;) text to donate by texting DRYF47 £1 to 70070 or go to this website https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/timeforacuppa

Here's to a healthy and happy weekend BeYOUtiful, I'm going to tidy the house I think and make a space for my award! Eek!