My wife converted her health/fitness via a similar mechanism and recently 2 of her (less than healthy) coworkers have been opening to following. Emulation is a wonderful tool (and, egotistical, fulfilling to witness in all honesty).
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Street corner preachers oft have deserved stereotypes. Nobody wants to be forced to a different vantage.
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The hard line to balance is when one has loved ones that are walking a less than optimal (and apparently unfullfilling path) , determining where to give gentle nudges without the perception of a rod.