Peer Pressure

Peer pressure affects all of us to some varying degree . Last year there was significant peer pressure for me to join a walking group . The group met every three days at a nearby walking track to walk for two hours . With a tight schedule and not one to really enjoy walking , I was reluctant to join the group . In the beginning , I simply made excuses to avoid meeting at the track to walk . But then I started hearing my peers chatting and planning other activities . I felt completely left out of the group

because much of what they discussed was a continuation of some conversation they had during their walking sessions . I quit making excuses and soon joined the group . I found myself re-arranging my schedule to make sure I could be at the track with the rest of the group . The positive change from this peer pressured activity has made a big difference in my life

Even though initially I was reluctant to join the group , I am now glad that I did . The first two weeks of trying to keep the walking pace with the group was difficult . I could barely keep up , let alone have conversations . Yet , everyone was encouraging me to become a faster and longer walker . Now , I am still part of the group and feeling healthier then I have in the past . The walking made me stop and evaluate other ways in my life that I could be healthier . I changed my diet and starting drinking more water . As a result , I have lost some weight and have more energy . When the weather is too miserable to walk , we even meet at the mall . Even if it is just a little bit , it is fun to challenge myself to walk further and faster with each meeting . I often look back and think about how much weight I would have added if I had not joined the group . I am healthier and feel better about life as a whole . This was one time that peer pressure was a positive influence for me...