Every year, Thrive Challenge participants share their inspiring stories of resilience, perseverance, connection, and joy. Patty Kennedy is one of this year’s Thrive Challenge Grand Champs, and as her story shows, small changes can have a big impact on our lives — and the lives of others. Download the Thrive app to start your own Thrive Challenge. After 21 days of making better choices, share your story for a chance to win part of the $1 million prize pool!
As a child, I was sexually abused for years. I had therapy, but as an adult I was still dealing with deep trauma. I was insecure and my confidence was low. Five years ago, I was a single mom raising my teenage daughters, Dyana and Meghan, and I was in survival mode: overwhelmed, stressed, and in debt. I think it all stemmed from these years of abuse.
I was neglecting caring for my health, and bad arthritis in my knees gave me a lot of pain.
We’d eat fast food, I’d drink six Cokes a day, and I wasn’t exercising. I’m only five foot one and I weighed 160 pounds. I looked in the mirror and said: “Where did Patty go?” I went to see my doctor, and he told me I was obese. That was my wake-up call. Coincidentally, the very next day, I heard about the Thrive Challenge and got started.
My first Microstep was swapping one soda a day for water.
I learned a great tip from Thrive, to throw fresh mint or cucumber into water for flavor, and I slowly cut out sugary drinks. We started cooking instead of eating out, experimenting with new veggies we’d previously never have eaten in a million years, like spaghetti squash and asparagus. Now, our favorite dinner is grilled chicken with fresh rosemary and oregano from our garden. We’ll have green beans with lemon pepper, and a side salad. My girls are into sports, and instead of grabbing burgers and hot dogs on the way to softball games and horse shows, we started taking healthy snacks from home like hard boiled eggs, nuts and seeds, or veggies and hummus. Cutting out fast food helped me save money too, so I felt less stressed.
We adopted a dog, Winston, and taking him for walks kicked off my movement journey and helped further manage my stress.
Having a dog was very healing for me and the girls. Soon, Winston and I were walking three and half miles along a local nature trail with pretty lakes and quarries. I’m an outdoorsy girl at heart, and I love looking at the blue sky, listening to the birds singing and squirrels playing chase. After a few months, I started jogging, and I loved it. I’ll sing along to female empowerment songs like “Miss Independent” by Kelly Clarkson. When I get back home, I say kind things to myself. I’ll repeat affirmations like, “You’ve got this, Patty.” There’s a quote on the Thrive app I really like: “Be careful what you say to yourself, because you are listening.”
Patty with her daughters, Dyana and Meghan, and Meghan’s dog, Mighty
Another great Microstep was getting an accountability buddy, my best friend, Tammy.
We joined a kickboxing class together. It’s so much fun kicking and punching to upbeat ’80s songs like Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.” Gradually I lost a few pounds, and my knees hurt less. I may be short, but I feel strong and powerful now.
I went back to therapy to work on healing from my trauma, and found volunteer work that also helps me heal.
I volunteer for Childhelp, a wonderful center offering support for children who’ve been abused. I have a lot of empathy because I know what they’ve been through. And I support Pearls Of Grace, a charity helping girls in low-income families apply to college or trade schools. I arranged for a group of young women to come to Sam’s Club, where our managers talked to them about job opportunities. Another way of healing for me is staying connected to my faith. I enjoy volunteering at church, serving coffee and tea and helping to teach at our Sunday school.
I feel a lot better about myself. I know now that I’m not a victim – I’m a survivor.
I’ve learned that your past is not who you are. I’m Patty.
When I found out I’d won the Thrive Challenge, I was in shock.
Byron Johnson, my general manager, called me into his office to congratulate me, and I was like, “Are you serious?” When it sank in, I was on top of the highest cloud! But I didn’t stop there — I wanted to keep growing.
As I became more confident and comfortable in my own skin, I was more sociable.
Great things seemed to keep happening to me, like falling in love! I met Billy when he was shopping in Sam’s Club. He invited me to eat at the food truck he owns, we started dating, and we got married on August 14th, 2021. I finally found a man who really cares about me. We love being with each other and never run out of things to talk about.
Now that the girls are grown and living their own lives, Billy and I inspire each other to stay healthy.
Billy’s outdoorsy like me, and we go for hikes and for bike rides. We recently went for an 11-mile hike at Mount Le Conte in the Smoky Mountains National Park. It was tough, but we felt so good. Yard work and gardening are also great sources of movement, and I love learning about flowers and plants. We’re growing herbs like thyme, basil, and rosemary, which I use in my cooking. Billy loves my girls as if they were his own, and we all go for walks and have meals together when they’re around.
Patty and Billy out for a hike
At work, I’m happier. I always have a smile on my face, and I’m excited about my career.
I’ve been promoted, and I’m on track to become an assistant manager. To be honest, I never thought I was good enough for a management position, but with Thrive, I tell myself, “Hey, I can do this.” My goal is to be the best Patty I can be. I’m known as the Thrive Cheerleader. I’ve encouraged 75 people to download the Thrive app; I think they’re inspired by my achievements.
Patty and her Sam’s Club team
I’ve lost 30 pounds and kept it off, and my arthritis is much better.
I’m 55 now, but I feel a lot younger. I could go on and on about how the Thrive app has changed my life. I’m all in! Nothing’s perfect of course — some days are still hard, but my life is perfect for me.
Patty with Dyana and Meghan
— Patty Kennedy, Sam’s Club #6572, Knoxville, TN; $25K Winner