When I was first asked to write a piece regarding the “Art of Return,” I thought it would be easy. I would just write about my transformation from a weight of 453 pounds down to 196 pounds and the resurrection of my old life from before the weight gain. Then, it dawned on me that the “Art of Return” signifies much more than my physical transformation. It is about losing myself along my life’s journey and then finding myself again. It isn’t just a physical transformation (which was pretty wild), but an overall transformation of body, mind, and soul. I thought losing 221 pounds on the national TV show “Extreme Weight Loss” would be enough of a compelling story. I thought losing a total of 257 pounds in and out of the show would solve all my problems. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was only the beginning of my new journey to find my “new normal,” and I’m still working on it.
I never thought my faith would play a big role because I don’t consider myself very religious. However, it was through my faith that I was able to break through barriers and handle the curve balls thrown at me that at any moment could have ended my turn on the show. It was all about faith – faith in myself, faith in my family, faith in my religion and my Jewish identity. It was about believing in myself, never giving up, finding my purpose and passion in life, sharing it with others by paying it forward, and teaching others how to find their “Inner Hero.” It came from learning throughout life what it is to be a good person, and it was grounded in my parents, their parents, and generations of Epsteins that taught me how important it is to be of service to others and to constantly educate myself. That’s what the “Art of Return” means to me.
