Lawrence? Ben Davis, a motivational speaker, spoke to students about his ?Do Life? philosophy, and encouraged the audience to find happiness through self- improvement as a part of the campus sponsored Celebrate EveryBody Week.
In his speech, Davis discussed his transition from an obese college graduate, to an Ironman triathlon participant. This transition, Davis said, was inspired by his grandmother, and was not solely to become more physically fit.
?On Christmas eve of 2008, my Grandma just flat out asked me if I was happy,? Davis said. ?And I realized, no, I wasn?t happy at all. I was 365 pounds and only 22 years old. It was time to change something.?
As a Christmas gift for his Grandmother, Davis started a blog to document his weight loss and search for happiness, which he promised his grandmother he would find. Davis had tried to set goals to lose weight several times in the past without success, but he said this time he was determined to fulfill his promise.
?I realized that this starting and stopping and giving up all the time leads to a sad life.? Davis said. ?I made this promise to my grandmother to be happy and change my life, and I just knew this was going to be it. No more failure.?
Davis created a support system within his family, set goals for his weight loss, and began running 5k races. As he improved, he moved on to 10k races and then to Ironman triathlons. After two years, Davis lost 120 pounds, and found the happiness he promised his grandmother he would find by discovering a passion for running, but his weight loss journey, Davis said, was not the purpose of the speech he was giving.
?This isn?t about me; this is about you, doing life, and being happy.? Davis said. ??You don?t have to run marathons or lose a hundred pounds, but you can set goals for yourself to become the best student, athlete, or person you can be. Find a support system to help get you there, and make it fun. No matter what goals you make to improve yourself, make sure they lead to you being happy.?
The speech was hosted by KU Student Health Services, who chose to incorporate Davis as a speaker into Celebrate EveryBody Week because of this year?s theme of physical activity. Sophomore Sarah Weaver attended Davis?s speech, which she said delivered a message larger than that of the importance of physical fitness alone.
?I walked into the auditorium thinking that I was going to hear a clich? speech about being physically active and how important it is to be healthy in college just based on the the Celebrate EveryBody Week theme that I saw everywhere, and I was completely caught off guard,? Weaver said. ?Being physically active is obviously important, and Davis?s weight loss and love of running helped him find that happiness he was looking for, but that doesn?t have to be your path to happiness. The entire ?Do Life? message, to me, meant setting and meeting your own kind of goals, and finding your own kind of happy.?
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