WATER WORKS!  Motivational Story Of Change
By Debbie Allen, All Rights Reserved

When my grandmother, Bernadette Dault was 85 year old she was not the healthy, active person she once was. Her failing health, high blood pressure and pain left her dependent on a walker or cane to get around.  She could hardly open her fingers because of pain her arthritis had caused and she was bent over from her shoulders.  Pain pills and lots of sleep helped her cope with life day to day.  It became frustrating to her when doctors told her that there was nothing they could do to help, since there is no cure for arthritis.  At that point in her life she was feeling weak and depressed.  

She decided to try another doctor for one last hope.  This doctor suggested that she try water aerobics.  “Oh, No!” was the first words out of her mouth.  “I never go into the water.  I’m deathly afraid of going in a swimming pool.”  With her great sense of humor she added, “The closest that I ever came to water was a walk on the beach and even that made me nervous”.  

Not only was she afraid of water, she was also afraid of exercise because she was in so much pain.  Reluctantly she decided to give it a try as her only last hope for feeling free of pain and back on her feet.  As she sat on the steps of the pool the first day she was shaky and afraid to go in.  Her therapist coaxed her to walk across the pool with the help of her walker.  

Each day became a little easier and she started to build her confidence and stamina.  “I knew that I couldn’t give up and was determined to keep going no matter how hard it seemed at the time.  I just knew that I didn’t want to feel sick and in pain any longer.”

As she improved she no longer needed the help of the physical therapist and joined a local health club.  Her first water aerobics instructor was a fit 90-year-old man retired from the military.  He inspired her to continue and get better.

She came a long way since her first days in the water, and believed that Water Works.  After less than a year she was free of pain and lived a very active lifestyle without the use of a walker or a cane.  In fact, her last few years of life were some of her happiest and most fulfilling.

My grandmother Bernadette lived to be 91 years young.  And amazingly, just three short weeks before she passed away she was actually teaching water aerobics at the retirement community where she lived.

My grandmother’s vest for life, enthusiasm, sense of humor and strong determination touched everyone she met.  An inspiration - that is what my grandmother was to me and to so many others lives she touched over the years.

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Bio: Debbie Allen is one of the world’s leading authorities on sales and marketing.  She is the author of five books including Confessions of Shameless Self Promoters and Skyrocketing Sales.  Debbie has helped thousands of people around the world attract customers like crazy with her innovative, no-cost marketing strategies and secrets to sales success.  Her expertise has been featured in Entrepreneur, Selling Power and Sales & Marketing Excellence.  Sign up for her FREE 6-week e-Course Business Success Secrets Revealed ($97 value) and take the online business card quiz to rate you marketing online now at www.DebbieAllen.com.