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“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” ~ Maya Angelou
I think the best gift you can give someone in the world (and yourself) are two little words that pack so much power in them:
Thank you.
I think gratitude can go a long way for yourself and others. When you are thankful for what you have in life, you will focus on those things and not dwell on what's missing. You will be more accepting of things beyond your control and not feel frustrated when things don't go your way. You will value those things more because you are thankful for them. You will make others feel good about their presence in your life by letting them know that you are thankful to have them in your life. This will help them to feel better about themselves and recognize that they too have an impact on others by being who they authentically are.
We are all human and want to know we are being appreciated. There's nothing worse than feeling like you are giving your all to a relationship/friendship and not feeling appreciated. By saying "thank you", those two simple words can change a person's day. It can show them that they are appreciated. That's not to say that those two words are the ONLY way to express gratitude and appreciation. But it's a great start.
You would think it would be easy to say those two little words. But many people have a hard time saying them. I think that with those two words, there has to be some sort of surrendering and vulnerability attached. You have to be able to humble yourself, put aside your own ego and give credit to someone else. And that is not easy for some people to do.
Giving credit to someone else does not mean you are devaluing your contribution to the world. It means you're recognizing someone else's contribution to the world. We are all here for a reason. No one person can do it all. We all have our own gifts and purpose in life. And there is nothing wrong with giving notice to someone else's presence in the world and showing gratitude.
I spent the last two days of 2013, thanking some people in my life for what they have brought into it. My heart was telling me to do that and I am learning that it is okay to let your heart rule some decisions when it feels right. I think if we spent more time appreciating the people in our lives, whether they are lifelong friends or just people you interact with on social media who inspire you, to even that person in your neighborhood who always offers you a smile and "Good Morning", we'd feel lighter and the world on a whole would be happier.
As I have blogged before, it is okay to be vulnerable and in life, we all have to surrender at some point and be accepting of things beyond our control. Saying things like "Thank You" and "I'm Sorry" are ways to practice not being afraid to be vulnerable and being more thankful in life.
I think we need more gratitude in the world. It continues to baffle me when people get suspicious or think I have ulterior motives when I say those two words or tell them how awesome I think they are. I believe in speaking life into people. It doesn't mean you're not being honest with them. It just means you're freely expressing how great you think they are. To me, it's another way of expressing gratitude for their presence in my life.
With that said, I want to say THANK YOU to those of you who read this blog on a regular basis and have gone on this journey with me. 2013 was a great year and 2014 will be even better.
If you decide to end your year, saying "Thank You" to someone for their presence in your life in 2013, I would love to hear about it. Trust me, it'll make your heart feel lighter and may inspire that person to continue doing what they're doing since someone noticed enough to say "thank you". Happy New Year, people!
“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say 'thank you'?” ~ William Arthur Ward
I don't keep unflattering pictures of myself anywhere. I can't help the ones that others take of me and I don't think too much of that. But the ones I do have control over, I delete and keep it moving. I do that because I feel like seeing unflattering pictures of myself is putting myself through some unnecessary negativity. But I have also learned over the years that taking photos of myself made me such a critical person because I scrutinized over every single photo to the point where none of them were perfect. That critical side of me started to spill over into other aspects of my life and it really affected my spirit in a negative way. Then one day, a lightbulb went off over my head and I had an epiphany.
None of those pictures will ever be perfect because... I am not perfect.
And me being this way is no better than someone who takes pictures and photoshops them to the point where the model doesn't even look real anymore. My search for the perfect image was taking away from me loving myself as I am. We have all been brainwashed by society to think that if we don't look like who we see on the magazine covers or if our bodies are not a certain size, that we are not normal and not beautiful.
Does that piss you off? I know it pissed me off for a long time when I was in my 20s and was channeling my inner Chuck D/Joan Jett persona in college. How dare the world tell me that I am not normal or beautiful because I wasn't a size 2 or had pin-straight hair and perfect skin? But then I realized that fighting the world is not the answer. My anger was not healthy and it was taking my attention away from truly taking care of myself because I wanted to rebel from society. Which meant eating whatever I wanted and doing whatever I wanted.
We can't change the world until we change how we feel about ourselves first. We can't expect for the world to accept us unconditionally if we can't fully love ourselves for who we are right in this moment. Once we change our own mindset and be who we are with no excuses and fear, that alone will inspire others to do the same. It's really simple as that but so hard to actually accomplish because undoing years of brainwashing is not easy.
I personally don't buy into what society says is beautiful anymore. After years of working on me and building my self-love, I now know that happiness does not come in a dress size. Happiness comes from within.
I love myself as I am right now. I loved myself 3 years ago at a size 32. And I love myself today just the same at a size 26. I may have gotten smaller but my love for myself remains the same. Life didn't suddenly get amazing because my dress size got smaller. My life has always been amazing, even the ups and the downs. No one's life is perfect so we all have to roll with the punches. Doesn't mean life isn't good overall.
Change your mindset and you will change your life. I'm telling you.
Everything starts with you and accepting who you are in all of your fabulousness. Like I always say, we all have a choice. When we CHOOSE to not accept what society is telling us on how we should look and what is "perfect" and we CHOOSE to instead begin a love affair with ourselves, that is when your life will change.
You will want to take care of you, whether it's getting healthier, dressing your body better...shoot, even cut your hair! ::points at self:: It may sound selfish but you have to put yourself first. But it is not selfish if you put yourself first for the right reasons. How can you be there for others and take care of others if you're not doing that for yourself?
When you take care of yourself physically, you are healing yourself mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We often seek happiness from others when in reality, all we have to do is look within ourselves for that happiness.
I still chuckle about the fact that I have lost weight and didn't even know it. I just decided to give up soda a year ago (my 1-yr anniversary was yesterday) and started eating healthier. I really just wanted to feel better and get healthier. I haven't weighed myself in over a year. But I do take my measurements from time to time when I am ordering from my favorite retailer eShakti. And that's when I noticed I was getting smaller. Then the comments started rolling in. People would see me at events and etc and be shocked at how great I looked.
To me, I have always looked great but of course, there goes that society brainwashing again where people feel that losing weight is the ultimate compliment...but I digress.
Anyway, the biggest lesson in all of this is that I have learned to not seek validation from others. I couldn't care less if someone noticed my weight loss or not. What counts is that I feel good and I'm happy. I'm doing it for me. Not to prove anything to anyone or to seek approval from society. I'm doing it to honor who I am by hopefully extending my life span and making it easier for this body to explore the world. By being good to myself, making myself stronger and healing myself, I am giving myself the gift of happiness no matter what size I end up to be.
None of those pictures will ever be perfect because... I am not perfect.
And me being this way is no better than someone who takes pictures and photoshops them to the point where the model doesn't even look real anymore. My search for the perfect image was taking away from me loving myself as I am. We have all been brainwashed by society to think that if we don't look like who we see on the magazine covers or if our bodies are not a certain size, that we are not normal and not beautiful.
Does that piss you off? I know it pissed me off for a long time when I was in my 20s and was channeling my inner Chuck D/Joan Jett persona in college. How dare the world tell me that I am not normal or beautiful because I wasn't a size 2 or had pin-straight hair and perfect skin? But then I realized that fighting the world is not the answer. My anger was not healthy and it was taking my attention away from truly taking care of myself because I wanted to rebel from society. Which meant eating whatever I wanted and doing whatever I wanted.
We can't change the world until we change how we feel about ourselves first. We can't expect for the world to accept us unconditionally if we can't fully love ourselves for who we are right in this moment. Once we change our own mindset and be who we are with no excuses and fear, that alone will inspire others to do the same. It's really simple as that but so hard to actually accomplish because undoing years of brainwashing is not easy.
I personally don't buy into what society says is beautiful anymore. After years of working on me and building my self-love, I now know that happiness does not come in a dress size. Happiness comes from within.
I love myself as I am right now. I loved myself 3 years ago at a size 32. And I love myself today just the same at a size 26. I may have gotten smaller but my love for myself remains the same. Life didn't suddenly get amazing because my dress size got smaller. My life has always been amazing, even the ups and the downs. No one's life is perfect so we all have to roll with the punches. Doesn't mean life isn't good overall.
Change your mindset and you will change your life. I'm telling you.
Everything starts with you and accepting who you are in all of your fabulousness. Like I always say, we all have a choice. When we CHOOSE to not accept what society is telling us on how we should look and what is "perfect" and we CHOOSE to instead begin a love affair with ourselves, that is when your life will change.
You will want to take care of you, whether it's getting healthier, dressing your body better...shoot, even cut your hair! ::points at self:: It may sound selfish but you have to put yourself first. But it is not selfish if you put yourself first for the right reasons. How can you be there for others and take care of others if you're not doing that for yourself?
When you take care of yourself physically, you are healing yourself mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We often seek happiness from others when in reality, all we have to do is look within ourselves for that happiness.
I still chuckle about the fact that I have lost weight and didn't even know it. I just decided to give up soda a year ago (my 1-yr anniversary was yesterday) and started eating healthier. I really just wanted to feel better and get healthier. I haven't weighed myself in over a year. But I do take my measurements from time to time when I am ordering from my favorite retailer eShakti. And that's when I noticed I was getting smaller. Then the comments started rolling in. People would see me at events and etc and be shocked at how great I looked.
To me, I have always looked great but of course, there goes that society brainwashing again where people feel that losing weight is the ultimate compliment...but I digress.
Anyway, the biggest lesson in all of this is that I have learned to not seek validation from others. I couldn't care less if someone noticed my weight loss or not. What counts is that I feel good and I'm happy. I'm doing it for me. Not to prove anything to anyone or to seek approval from society. I'm doing it to honor who I am by hopefully extending my life span and making it easier for this body to explore the world. By being good to myself, making myself stronger and healing myself, I am giving myself the gift of happiness no matter what size I end up to be.
This week, I have been heavy in thought. 2013 was a tough year. And I'm tired.
I believe in the following 3 things when it comes to life:
1) Setbacks happen to teach you a lesson, to show you how strong you are and that you can get through anything. They make you appreciate those good things when they do happen.
2) You always have a choice with everything from who you keep in your life to how you let things affect you.
3) If you want things to happen in your life, you have to do your part, get out there and make some moves. If an opportunity is meant for you, it will happen. If it doesn't, keep it moving. It's beyond your control. No use being upset over it. Letting go is the best thing you can do for yourself in life.
So, while this has been a tough year, I am determined to turn things around because everything happens for a reason. It's just not in my DNA to be depressed or down for long. With that said, I sat my butt down and did what I do best... I made a list of things I want to change. And then I wrote notes next to each thing on what I can do to acquire that in my life.
Once it was all down on paper, I realized that I was focusing on too many things at once and that was making me feel overwhelmed. This is where prioritizing comes in. I realized that while I would love to find love and get married and have babies, right now, I can't have that be my #1 focus.
The most important thing to me right now is my career. I have an e-Book I have to finish. I want to build this blog and make it successful. I ultimately want to be a successful published author. But I also recognize that it is not going to happen tomorrow and I need to survive. A wise person once told me that sometimes to get to where you want to get to, you might have to do some things you don't want to. I am freelancing now and love it. I plan to keep doing that but I need more. Money is power and I hate feeling like I am limited in what I can do in this life because of not having enough money. I love to travel and I don't want to have to watch every single penny I spend. I'm thrifty by nature and love to coupon. But sometimes, this money struggle is draining.
I look at a fellow colleague who is a published author working on his third book and during the day, he sells cars. And doing a great job, I might add. So I know he's laughing all the way to the bank with all the commissions he's making. Do you think he wants to be selling cars? Hell no. But he's doing it to make a living while he works on making his main dream come true.
So just like that, I am back on the job market. I don't look forward to cubicle life again but I will admit that I do feel a little excited because my background is extensive to the point where I am confident I will land something good where I am sure I will not be bored. I haven't been in the job market for a few years so things are so different now than they were 5 years ago when I got laid off.
LinkedIn is a valuable resource as well as social media. I read an article the other day where this barber got a job and relocated from the Midwest to NYC simply by using Instagram. Yes, people. You have to get creative now to get noticed and I LOVE IT.
I still plan to freelance and do what I am doing now with the exception of my tutoring business. I will have to give that up but I am okay with that because sometimes, the best thing you can do to further yourself in life is to walk away from something that has served its purpose.
I just made the choice to not wait until New Year's to make things happen. The time is now. I'm doing my part by sending my resumes out, contacting old colleagues to put feelers out there and research what companies are hiring. That's all any of us can do. Someone is not going to knock on my door and offer me a job. Just like a nice single man will not be knocking on my door to ask me out. I wish!
We have to put ourselves out in the world, roll the dice and see where they fall. Life is all about taking chances and having faith that things will work out. That's what being fearless is all about.
I already know what my first "treat" to myself will be when I land a gig. Australia is calling my name. And if I can get my mom on a plane without telling her it's a 23 hour flight, she is going with me. Life is short and my friend M said it best when she said that she works hard so she can travel, buy her favorite high-end beauty products, eat at expensive restaurants and live life to the fullest in the best way possible. Amen, sister.
I believe in the following 3 things when it comes to life:
1) Setbacks happen to teach you a lesson, to show you how strong you are and that you can get through anything. They make you appreciate those good things when they do happen.
2) You always have a choice with everything from who you keep in your life to how you let things affect you.
3) If you want things to happen in your life, you have to do your part, get out there and make some moves. If an opportunity is meant for you, it will happen. If it doesn't, keep it moving. It's beyond your control. No use being upset over it. Letting go is the best thing you can do for yourself in life.
So, while this has been a tough year, I am determined to turn things around because everything happens for a reason. It's just not in my DNA to be depressed or down for long. With that said, I sat my butt down and did what I do best... I made a list of things I want to change. And then I wrote notes next to each thing on what I can do to acquire that in my life.
Once it was all down on paper, I realized that I was focusing on too many things at once and that was making me feel overwhelmed. This is where prioritizing comes in. I realized that while I would love to find love and get married and have babies, right now, I can't have that be my #1 focus.
The most important thing to me right now is my career. I have an e-Book I have to finish. I want to build this blog and make it successful. I ultimately want to be a successful published author. But I also recognize that it is not going to happen tomorrow and I need to survive. A wise person once told me that sometimes to get to where you want to get to, you might have to do some things you don't want to. I am freelancing now and love it. I plan to keep doing that but I need more. Money is power and I hate feeling like I am limited in what I can do in this life because of not having enough money. I love to travel and I don't want to have to watch every single penny I spend. I'm thrifty by nature and love to coupon. But sometimes, this money struggle is draining.
I look at a fellow colleague who is a published author working on his third book and during the day, he sells cars. And doing a great job, I might add. So I know he's laughing all the way to the bank with all the commissions he's making. Do you think he wants to be selling cars? Hell no. But he's doing it to make a living while he works on making his main dream come true.
So just like that, I am back on the job market. I don't look forward to cubicle life again but I will admit that I do feel a little excited because my background is extensive to the point where I am confident I will land something good where I am sure I will not be bored. I haven't been in the job market for a few years so things are so different now than they were 5 years ago when I got laid off.
LinkedIn is a valuable resource as well as social media. I read an article the other day where this barber got a job and relocated from the Midwest to NYC simply by using Instagram. Yes, people. You have to get creative now to get noticed and I LOVE IT.
I still plan to freelance and do what I am doing now with the exception of my tutoring business. I will have to give that up but I am okay with that because sometimes, the best thing you can do to further yourself in life is to walk away from something that has served its purpose.
I just made the choice to not wait until New Year's to make things happen. The time is now. I'm doing my part by sending my resumes out, contacting old colleagues to put feelers out there and research what companies are hiring. That's all any of us can do. Someone is not going to knock on my door and offer me a job. Just like a nice single man will not be knocking on my door to ask me out. I wish!
We have to put ourselves out in the world, roll the dice and see where they fall. Life is all about taking chances and having faith that things will work out. That's what being fearless is all about.
I already know what my first "treat" to myself will be when I land a gig. Australia is calling my name. And if I can get my mom on a plane without telling her it's a 23 hour flight, she is going with me. Life is short and my friend M said it best when she said that she works hard so she can travel, buy her favorite high-end beauty products, eat at expensive restaurants and live life to the fullest in the best way possible. Amen, sister.
Photo credit: Andy Cohen/Instagram |
During her guest spot, when she spoke of her hands and how they were one of her favorite parts of her body despite the media saying she has ugly hands, she also mentioned her second favorite part of her body...her feet. Her reason for loving her feet had nothing to do with vanity. She simply said that she loves her feet because they have taken her so many places and have not failed her yet.
WOW! <mind officially blown>
This is a woman who is a fashion icon. You would expect her to be one that speaks from a vanity standpoint. But no. Her favorite parts of her body have nothing to do with vanity and more to do with their meaning to her life. She is grateful for those body parts that many people overlook in favor of other body parts that are only admired for their beauty and nothing else. You hear it all the time... someone will say they love their eyes because of their color or shape... or their smile... or their lips, etc. They choose their favorite body parts based on what they feel is attractive and validated by society. That, in turn, causes us to loathe those body parts that are not considered attractive by society. And thus begins this vicious cycle of constantly trying to change ourselves to fit this standard imposed on us by society. Which we know never works as no one is perfect nor is everyone the same. We all can't fit into this cookie cutter body image that we are told we need to be like.
SJP has me really thinking about body image and how a simple mindset change can have you looking at yourself with a new set of eyes. It will have you being thankful for those body parts you don't think twice about.
Think about it. If we truly loved parts of our bodies for reasons that were more about how they enhance our lives in a meaningful way, we'd spend less time worrying about trying to fit in and be like someone else. We'd love ourselves in all of uniqueness and embrace those body parts that may seem "ugly" or "flawed". Those parts may not be beautiful by society's standards but they are more than vanity objects. They bring meaning to our lives, whether it's our eyes for allowing us to see the wonders of the world or our ears for allowing us to be able to listen to our favorite song or hear our child's voice saying "I love you". Or even our feet for taking us places we couldn't imagine we'd ever be.
SJP is on to something here. She may not realize it now but that one guest spot may have changed someone's life by causing them to look at their body differently. It did that for me so who knows who else she inspired? In my opinion, she just became an advocate for positive body image and probably didn't even know it.
This is a perfect example as to why it is so important to share your story. We all have something to say that will mean something to the world. With that said...
I want to know...what are your favorite body parts minus the vanity, the beauty or what society thinks? What body parts are meaningful to you?
I'm going to ponder this one for a bit on my end and write a future post, sharing what my favorite body parts are. I hope I can inspire you to do the same. Let's be thankful for those body parts we don't think twice about.
Yep, that pretty much describes me in a nutshell.
I love sparkly things. I love glitter. My life's mission is to leave a trail of glitter EVERYWHERE I go in the world. I don't let my size stop me either. I'm proudly a size 28 and I rock what I got. Two years ago, I was a size 32 and was still out there, getting my glam on. That's what being fearless is all about.
But with that, I also love subtlety. I know it sounds weird to actually have sparkly and subtlety in the same instance but hey, I make it work.
I love this time of the year because I get to dress up and wear sparkly details. The holidays equal glitz and glam fabulousness for me. I have a few parties and gatherings to attend and they all call for different looks. Sure, it's a challenge but here's some tips I live by when putting together different kinds of outfits on a budget and time constraint:
1) I look for accessories that I can use in more than one outfit. I found the cutest gold metallic flats at Payless (of all places) for $17.99 on sale. I managed to use these flats in three of my outfits! Same goes with the matching little gold purse I bought at Payless with the shoes. I'm not much of a jewelry girl. I love my earrings and a bracelet or two. I try to get jewelry I can use over and over again.
2) I don't wear a lot of makeup but during the holidays, some mascara and a red lip are a must.
Glitz and glam are two different things for me. Glitz is all about the drama and being bold while looking fabulous. But drama and boldness are subjective. Everyone has their take on glitz. Here's mine:
1st outfit (starting from left): I've posted this dress before. It's the Nezetta Cocktail Dress from Igigi. This is subtlety and glitz in a nutshell. The navy color of the dress looks wonderful with the gold metallic details in the fabric. And there goes those 'faithful' gold flats from Payless. I'm wearing a 26/28 here but Igigi tends to run big and I could have easily sized down to a 22/24. The belt fell off after this pic because it was too big.
2nd outfit: This is an outfit I wore to meet some girlfriends for some holidays drinks in NYC. Basic black sweater tunic from Lane Bryant (no longer available) and these fabulous grey metallic leggings from ASOS. If you haven't shopped from ASOS, you really should. They offer free shipping and they run big. I'm wearing a size 24 here. And like I said before, I am a size 28. I am going to re-wear these for New Year's Eve. Just not sure what to pair it with yet. I felt like the sweater underscored the leggings but you live and learn. Bag is from Eloquii, shoes from Simply Be.
3rd outfit: I LOVE this dress and it is from another retailer I shop from all the time... Simply Be! This dress is from the Anna Scholz line and unfortunately, it is sold out. I love the gold detail, the waistband and the neckline. It's comfortable, too and with lots of stretch. You can't tell but I have on black sequin leggings I got from Wet Seal. I'm wearing a 3X. I like mixing up patterns and I loved how the sequins paired well with the gold details of the dress. And of course, I wore my gold flats with this outfit too.
Glam to me means sass with some glamour...I love me some Audrey Hepburn so when I think glam, I try to channel my inner Audrey:
Mannnnnnn, I love me some eShakti! Both dresses are from there. Dresses from the Shak (as us fashionistas affectionately call eShakti) tend to sell out quickly so if you see a dress you like, you must get it immediately. With that said, both of these are sold out. I have been looking for a polka dot dress for the longest time and had not had luck finding one in the right fabric that fits me well. This one is a winner! The scalloped neckline had me at hello. I paired it with the Payless gold flats to give it that sparkly touch. And I am thinking of also wearing a gold lurex sweater as well. The red one is fabulous too. I'm wearing that to my Christmas family gathering. It's simple and the color alone makes it stand out. I'm thinking of pairing that dress with some black sparkly flats.
To me, fearless fashion is all about wearing what you love and feel comfortable in and not worrying about silly rules and or letting what others says dictate your fashion. The holidays are a great time to experiment with your fashion and get out of your comfort zone.
Ahead of The Curve is a collective of plus size bloggers coming together to post on the same topic monthly. This month, we each sharing our take on "Holiday Glitz and Glam" so check them out by clicking on each link:
Fatshion Peepshow: Glitz and Glam WAVE: eShakti Leather Trim Poplin Dress
The Valerie Gallery: My Vintage Glam
Color me Fatt: Don’t wait for the perfect occasion, wear it NOW!!!
The Fat Girl: The Fat Girl Glams It Up
It’s Melicious: Glam It Up
Plump Up the Frock: Regency Style: A Jane Austen Costume Event
Lis Finds Bliss: Holiday Looks
Harper Valley Vlog: Holiday Party Looks!
Banner: Elizabeth Tamny
What Sarah Jessica Parker Has Taught Me About Loving Myself & Being Fearless
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Last night, I was channel surfing and came upon Watch What Happens: Live on the Bravo channel. Host Andy Cohen had Sarah Jessica Parker as his guest. The one thing that caught my attention was when she talked about how a reporter wrote an article in a magazine about how ugly her hands are and how she should get surgery to correct the problem. Her response to that really threw me. She told Andy that her hands are actually one of her favorite body parts because they represent strength and that there are her mother's hands. She said she was born with these hands so she loves them despite them being "vein-y", which she says they have always been. WOW!
If we all embraced this way of thought, I think the world would overflow in self-love and less criticism. SJP accepts her hands for what they are...they are not perfect but they are hers and she loves them. She sees past the veins and sees the beauty and strength in her hands. She is thankful for those hands because they are her mother's hands.
Her nails are short and unpolished. She was wearing a simple ring but that's it. So her love for her hands is evident since you can see she is not going out of her way to make them look better. She loves them the way that they are. To her, they are perfect because they are her hands.
I have heard so many negative opinions of SJP over the years... How she has a big nose, she is not very pretty, she's too skinny or her jaw is so big. But watching her on this show, this woman could care less what others say about her because she knows what matters is how she feels about herself. When I look at her, I see a woman who is beautiful from the inside and out. Watching her on TV, I feel her positive energy radiating outward. Her laughter is genuine and she seems at ease with who she is. And seeing her, unapologetic about who she is, makes me want to get to that place. I feel like I am halfway there but I am still on my journey.
I have never really been a huge fan but I have to say, I have a newfound respect for SJP. We live in such a critical world. I see it all the time, even on the PLUS Model Magazine blog and Facebook page. People will see an image of a model that they think is not plus size "enough" and will tear her to shreds. Even when we post an outfit, they will go in, saying how that color is ugly or how they would never wear that. Once there was an image of a model wearing lingerie who is battling cancer so she had a wig on (image on right). The comments that were made were terrible. Someone finally spoke up, saying that the model has cancer.
It has been said that when a person is very critical of others, it is a reflection of how they feel about themselves. If someone is truly happy with themselves, they won't care what someone else is wearing or doing.
We each have a part of our body we hate. I know I do. We are our own worst critics. Couple that with the criticisms of others and it's easy to see how many have a negative body image. We can't control what others think but we can control what we think.
For me, I hate my thighs. But after hearing SJP talk about her love for her hands that are deemed unattractive in the media, I am rethinking that thigh hate. If we want to change the world, we have to change how we feel about ourselves first. Loving ourselves truly will make us less critical of others.
And one less person being critical takes us one step closer to changing the world's mindset of always being negative and critical.
Hmmm....food for thought.
If we all embraced this way of thought, I think the world would overflow in self-love and less criticism. SJP accepts her hands for what they are...they are not perfect but they are hers and she loves them. She sees past the veins and sees the beauty and strength in her hands. She is thankful for those hands because they are her mother's hands.
Her nails are short and unpolished. She was wearing a simple ring but that's it. So her love for her hands is evident since you can see she is not going out of her way to make them look better. She loves them the way that they are. To her, they are perfect because they are her hands.
I have heard so many negative opinions of SJP over the years... How she has a big nose, she is not very pretty, she's too skinny or her jaw is so big. But watching her on this show, this woman could care less what others say about her because she knows what matters is how she feels about herself. When I look at her, I see a woman who is beautiful from the inside and out. Watching her on TV, I feel her positive energy radiating outward. Her laughter is genuine and she seems at ease with who she is. And seeing her, unapologetic about who she is, makes me want to get to that place. I feel like I am halfway there but I am still on my journey.
I have never really been a huge fan but I have to say, I have a newfound respect for SJP. We live in such a critical world. I see it all the time, even on the PLUS Model Magazine blog and Facebook page. People will see an image of a model that they think is not plus size "enough" and will tear her to shreds. Even when we post an outfit, they will go in, saying how that color is ugly or how they would never wear that. Once there was an image of a model wearing lingerie who is battling cancer so she had a wig on (image on right). The comments that were made were terrible. Someone finally spoke up, saying that the model has cancer.
It has been said that when a person is very critical of others, it is a reflection of how they feel about themselves. If someone is truly happy with themselves, they won't care what someone else is wearing or doing.
We each have a part of our body we hate. I know I do. We are our own worst critics. Couple that with the criticisms of others and it's easy to see how many have a negative body image. We can't control what others think but we can control what we think.
For me, I hate my thighs. But after hearing SJP talk about her love for her hands that are deemed unattractive in the media, I am rethinking that thigh hate. If we want to change the world, we have to change how we feel about ourselves first. Loving ourselves truly will make us less critical of others.
And one less person being critical takes us one step closer to changing the world's mindset of always being negative and critical.
Hmmm....food for thought.
As I have mentioned on this blog previously, my dad's death two years ago has had a tremendous impact on my life. Two years may sound like a long time to some but for me, it feels like it happened yesterday. And I don't know when that will change. All I know is that the pain is still there, as deep and severe as it was two years ago.
Everyone grieves differently and some don't know how this grief feels like. Losing a parent is something that cannot be explained. Even if you had a terrible relationship with your parent, when they die, you feel some kind of way because at the end of the day, they are still your parent and responsible for you being in this world. You may feel hate or anger but you still feel the loss.
The one thing I have learned from my grief and how it has intertwined with my life is that showing vulnerability is okay. As a friend and loved one, when you are there for someone in their worst moments when they are stripped bare, showing raw emotion and at their most vulnerable, that is a sign of true friendship and love.
It's tough because you don't know the right thing to say, especially if you have not lost a parent. But honestly, the right thing to say is "I don't know what to say but I will walk with you through this pain. I'm here." And just show up. That's it.
I have lost a few friends in the last two years because they didn't know how to be there for me and didn't want to push aside their own happiness to deal with me in my worst moments. And that's okay because we are all human and flawed. It happens.
But for me, learning how to be vulnerable and show that vulnerability has been such a big thing for me. When you're vulnerable, your heart is open and receptive to receiving the love coming your way. You don't have a wall up. And you are at your most genuine, authentic state. Living fearlessly is all about living with your heart open and not being afraid of the outcome and putting your heart out there.
This works with loss in your life, too. Sometimes grief can be so overwhelming that it makes you angry and lash out at everyone. Been there, done that. Grief can make you resentful of others still having their parents alive or being happy when you feel like you want to scream. But when you push through the anger and allow someone to hold your hand or just sit next to you as you cry, it does something for your soul that I cannot explain. All I know is you feel free.
I am lucky enough to have friends and family who have been there for me. But the most surprising thing came from a friend who I never thought of as vulnerable or someone who does emotions. Yet, the last two New Year's Eves, he sat on the phone with me all night as I sobbed over missing my dad and feeling like as each year ends, I am leaving him behind. And all this friend did was listen and then tell me that my dad is always with me among other comforting things.
And this friend, we will call him B, his parents are still alive so he has no idea of how my grief feels. But he knew the right things to say by just showing up. And he continues to be that one person that I reach out to immediately when I am having a moment. He doesn't tell me how to grieve or say things like "It's been two years. You should be over it already."
This past weekend, I had a moment where I felt that wave of grief hit me and I cried for hours, thinking of my dad and how I miss talking to him. I text B instead of calling him since I knew he was working and I proceeded to pour my heart out in my most vulnerable state, which became 5 text msgs long. This was his reply:
"I wish I had the magic words to make the pain disappear. Just know I'm here if you need me."
And just like that, he made me feel better. Just knowing he was there, even if he couldn't understand my pain, meant the world to me. He called me the next day and didn't mention anything until I did. He respects my grief and doesn't push, which also means so much. Sometimes you know someone loves you not by them telling you but how they treat you when you are in your worst state.
So I am embracing this vulnerability thing because honestly, it has made me deal with my grief better and it has made me see that I am not alone. That in itself is being fearless by dealing with my loss and learning to live with it, one day at a time. The pain will always be there but I am learning to accept that he's gone and that's what counts. Love you Daddy, always and forever. RIP 4/10/11.
Everyone grieves differently and some don't know how this grief feels like. Losing a parent is something that cannot be explained. Even if you had a terrible relationship with your parent, when they die, you feel some kind of way because at the end of the day, they are still your parent and responsible for you being in this world. You may feel hate or anger but you still feel the loss.
The one thing I have learned from my grief and how it has intertwined with my life is that showing vulnerability is okay. As a friend and loved one, when you are there for someone in their worst moments when they are stripped bare, showing raw emotion and at their most vulnerable, that is a sign of true friendship and love.
It's tough because you don't know the right thing to say, especially if you have not lost a parent. But honestly, the right thing to say is "I don't know what to say but I will walk with you through this pain. I'm here." And just show up. That's it.
I have lost a few friends in the last two years because they didn't know how to be there for me and didn't want to push aside their own happiness to deal with me in my worst moments. And that's okay because we are all human and flawed. It happens.
But for me, learning how to be vulnerable and show that vulnerability has been such a big thing for me. When you're vulnerable, your heart is open and receptive to receiving the love coming your way. You don't have a wall up. And you are at your most genuine, authentic state. Living fearlessly is all about living with your heart open and not being afraid of the outcome and putting your heart out there.
This works with loss in your life, too. Sometimes grief can be so overwhelming that it makes you angry and lash out at everyone. Been there, done that. Grief can make you resentful of others still having their parents alive or being happy when you feel like you want to scream. But when you push through the anger and allow someone to hold your hand or just sit next to you as you cry, it does something for your soul that I cannot explain. All I know is you feel free.
I am lucky enough to have friends and family who have been there for me. But the most surprising thing came from a friend who I never thought of as vulnerable or someone who does emotions. Yet, the last two New Year's Eves, he sat on the phone with me all night as I sobbed over missing my dad and feeling like as each year ends, I am leaving him behind. And all this friend did was listen and then tell me that my dad is always with me among other comforting things.
And this friend, we will call him B, his parents are still alive so he has no idea of how my grief feels. But he knew the right things to say by just showing up. And he continues to be that one person that I reach out to immediately when I am having a moment. He doesn't tell me how to grieve or say things like "It's been two years. You should be over it already."
This past weekend, I had a moment where I felt that wave of grief hit me and I cried for hours, thinking of my dad and how I miss talking to him. I text B instead of calling him since I knew he was working and I proceeded to pour my heart out in my most vulnerable state, which became 5 text msgs long. This was his reply:
"I wish I had the magic words to make the pain disappear. Just know I'm here if you need me."
And just like that, he made me feel better. Just knowing he was there, even if he couldn't understand my pain, meant the world to me. He called me the next day and didn't mention anything until I did. He respects my grief and doesn't push, which also means so much. Sometimes you know someone loves you not by them telling you but how they treat you when you are in your worst state.
So I am embracing this vulnerability thing because honestly, it has made me deal with my grief better and it has made me see that I am not alone. That in itself is being fearless by dealing with my loss and learning to live with it, one day at a time. The pain will always be there but I am learning to accept that he's gone and that's what counts. Love you Daddy, always and forever. RIP 4/10/11.
That quote from Coco Chanel couldn't be more true. A friend reminded me of that quote a few weeks ago when he asked why I cut all my hair off and said that when a woman cuts all her hair, it's a sign that she is going through a major change in her life. And I have to say, I agree with that wholeheartedly because my recent extreme haircut has changed my life.
I should have blogged about this 4 months ago when it happened but it was around that same time that I started my new job as Blog Editor for PLUS Model Magazine and school was starting so my tutoring sessions were also beginning. But I digress...
I cut my hair off on August 8. I will always remember that date because it was one of the most ballsy moves I have ever made in my life. Right up there with going to Europe by myself and climbing 20 flights of stairs to touch Buddha in Hong Kong.
I had really long hair until about 5 years ago and then I cut my hair into a bob that hung just below my shoulders. I think that was the beginning of my evolution since I got laid off and dumped by my boyfriend a week later. My hair then started to get shorter and shorter in the last 2 years but never shorter than chin length. Then one day, I decided I wanted a pixie cut. I was going through a transitional phase in my life and wanted a change. Plus, I have always heard that big girls can't rock pixie cuts because our faces are too fat. I felt like breaking another rule so I went for it. What the hell...I wear prints and do all sorts of things that people have said I can't do because of my weight. So why not cut my hair? ::insert fearless moment here::
I went into that salon looking like this:
Showed them this image:
Woo-woo-woo! Mannnnnn, I walked out of that salon with my hair the shortest it's ever been and I was ECSTATIC. Had a pep in my step and no one could tell me that I didn't look fabulous. Shoot, they even did my makeup. Shout out to the Carsten Institute in NYC! The girls there are awesome!
This hair has given me a sassy edge that I didn't have before. When I went back for a trim 6 weeks later, the girl went a little scissor-happy and just when I thought my hair couldn't get shorter, I walked out of there looking like Mia Farrow from Rosemary's Baby. But when I rocked that super short haircut at an event in Philly two weeks later, I was looking pretty hot. It really went well with this beautiful Igigi dress I am wearing (you can find that dress here)
Think I stopped there? Nope. Your girl is on a roll here. I went to Canada last month and visited a friend who is a former hairstylist. She colored my hair and gave me a haircut. Best part of it...she put purple sections in my hair.
This hair just gives me life. And I think I am going to keep it for a while. I hate that the pixie cut craze has now taken off since I like to be different and not run with the in crowd. I cut my hair just before Beyonce cut hers and started the trend. I think I look better anyway. And what!
So, Ladies, want to change your life? Cut your hair. Coco knew what she was talking about.
I should have blogged about this 4 months ago when it happened but it was around that same time that I started my new job as Blog Editor for PLUS Model Magazine and school was starting so my tutoring sessions were also beginning. But I digress...
I cut my hair off on August 8. I will always remember that date because it was one of the most ballsy moves I have ever made in my life. Right up there with going to Europe by myself and climbing 20 flights of stairs to touch Buddha in Hong Kong.
I had really long hair until about 5 years ago and then I cut my hair into a bob that hung just below my shoulders. I think that was the beginning of my evolution since I got laid off and dumped by my boyfriend a week later. My hair then started to get shorter and shorter in the last 2 years but never shorter than chin length. Then one day, I decided I wanted a pixie cut. I was going through a transitional phase in my life and wanted a change. Plus, I have always heard that big girls can't rock pixie cuts because our faces are too fat. I felt like breaking another rule so I went for it. What the hell...I wear prints and do all sorts of things that people have said I can't do because of my weight. So why not cut my hair? ::insert fearless moment here::
I went into that salon looking like this:
Showed them this image:
And walked out the salon, looking like this....
Woo-woo-woo! Mannnnnn, I walked out of that salon with my hair the shortest it's ever been and I was ECSTATIC. Had a pep in my step and no one could tell me that I didn't look fabulous. Shoot, they even did my makeup. Shout out to the Carsten Institute in NYC! The girls there are awesome!
This hair just gives me life. And I think I am going to keep it for a while. I hate that the pixie cut craze has now taken off since I like to be different and not run with the in crowd. I cut my hair just before Beyonce cut hers and started the trend. I think I look better anyway. And what!
So, Ladies, want to change your life? Cut your hair. Coco knew what she was talking about.
I hate the word DIET.
It holds such negativity and bad memories for me. It has been a word that has been a constant thorn in my side for as long as I can remember.
I went on my first diet when I was 10. I weighed 112 pounds and the doctor told my mom that at my age, I SHOULD weigh 90 pounds. I was a chubby kid. I won't lie. But I was cute and I was happy. I thought nothing was wrong with me. I loved books, had a bubbly personality, loved sparkly things, and laughed a lot.
Then I was told I was overweight and needed to lose weight.
Dieting made me unhappy. I didn't realize it then but it changed my life going forward. As a kid, I could not understand why I could not eat cookies or have a slice of pizza. Instead, I was eating tuna, lettuce and tomatoes with no dressing at all. I lost the weight in record time and was "thin" for a little while. But once I got off the diet and went back to regular life, I gained the weight back and then some.
Thus began my life of yo-yo dieting.
It got a point where about 10 years ago, I stopped dieting altogether. I was in the midst of my third time doing Weight Watchers and as I sat there in a meeting, listening to some woman, crying about how unhappy she was to be fat and how she just HAD to get thin, I had to leave. I spent years hearing the women around me say the same things. How they needed to lose weight for this party or that reunion. How they felt so ugly and huge. And I often wondered why I didn't feel that way.
This is going to sound weird but sometimes I forget my size. I don't walk heavy and honestly, I feel light. I walk with a strut, head up high and keep on moving. Then I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a store window or mirror and I am reminded that I am fat. But fat was never a word that bothered me UNTIL others made that word seem so disgusting and ugly.
So I gave up dieting. I wanted to be happy and I needed to take that added pressure off of me to be a certain size or eat a certain thing. I couldn't do it anymore. I have spent my whole life being overweight and dieting on and off. It was this constant yo-yo that became overwhelming. Being fat never stopped me from living life. I traveled the world. I continue to have a successful career. I have great friends. I never had a problem getting a man. I dress nice and have no problem finding nice plus size clothing. I basically lead a normal life.
That's not to say that I escaped the rudeness that fat people have to endure in this world. People can be critical, judgmental jerks. That much is true. Their words and insults hurt me deeply. But I never let it stop me from living life in the best way I could.
Then a year ago, I started having heart palpitations. Now I have always been healthy to a point. I went to the doctor regularly and the only thing I have battled on and off with is my blood pressure. But I've never had diabetes, cholesterol problems or anything serious like that. So of course, I went to the doctor.
As I blogged last year, I was diagnosed with extremely high blood pressure and it was affecting my heart. The doctor was shocked that I was still walking around because basically, I was a walking time-bomb.
This scared me "healthy". I gave up soda (my 1-yr "anniversary" will be Dec 27th), started eating more vegetables, gave up fried foods and gave up fast food for the most part. I occasionally have a burger or indulge in some Taco Bell once in a while but I am afraid to even look at a Big Mac or step foot into a Five Guys. I read labels now and that keeps my fear going. I talk a lot about being fearless but in this case, I welcome the fear because it keeps me on the right path to be being healthy. It motivates me to keep walking and being active. It keeps my shopping cart empty of bottles of Pepsi and Devil Dogs.
A year and a half later, I feel great. I always thought I had a weak stomach and that's why I was always sick. I now know it was because I was eating the wrong things plus drinking soda. My blood pressure is normal and has been for almost a year now. And added bonus...I'm down 3 sizes. Ironically, I'm still fat. But now I am fat and healthy.
What does that say to those naysayers like Maria Kang aka The Fit Mom who say you can tell someone's health by looking at them and that people who are not physically fit should not love themselves? I wrote a piece about Maria Kang on the PLUS Model Magazine blog and I have to say, it's hard to be objective when it comes to people like that because she reminds me of all the people in my life who have criticized me on my size and didn't take into account that I am a human being.
I believe that loving yourself is the foundation of everything. Self-love makes you want to be the best person you can be, which includes taking care of your body and being healthy. Instead of criticizing women for loving themselves and being proud of the body they are in NOW, she should be talking about low self-esteem issues with young girls, how negatively women are portrayed in the media, yo-yo dieting issues and eating disorders. Let's tackle the real issues here and not attack those women who are one step closer to living a healthy life because they have achieved the hardest step, which is loving and accepting yourself for who you are.
Who you are today does not guaranteed who you will be tomorrow. Loving yourself means wanting to be better. So evolving and growing in life is a natural step in that journey. I love where I am today and I am excited for who I will be tomorrow. And that's what counts. For now, I am fat and healthy and I embrace that.
It holds such negativity and bad memories for me. It has been a word that has been a constant thorn in my side for as long as I can remember.
I went on my first diet when I was 10. I weighed 112 pounds and the doctor told my mom that at my age, I SHOULD weigh 90 pounds. I was a chubby kid. I won't lie. But I was cute and I was happy. I thought nothing was wrong with me. I loved books, had a bubbly personality, loved sparkly things, and laughed a lot.
Then I was told I was overweight and needed to lose weight.
Dieting made me unhappy. I didn't realize it then but it changed my life going forward. As a kid, I could not understand why I could not eat cookies or have a slice of pizza. Instead, I was eating tuna, lettuce and tomatoes with no dressing at all. I lost the weight in record time and was "thin" for a little while. But once I got off the diet and went back to regular life, I gained the weight back and then some.
Thus began my life of yo-yo dieting.
It got a point where about 10 years ago, I stopped dieting altogether. I was in the midst of my third time doing Weight Watchers and as I sat there in a meeting, listening to some woman, crying about how unhappy she was to be fat and how she just HAD to get thin, I had to leave. I spent years hearing the women around me say the same things. How they needed to lose weight for this party or that reunion. How they felt so ugly and huge. And I often wondered why I didn't feel that way.
This is going to sound weird but sometimes I forget my size. I don't walk heavy and honestly, I feel light. I walk with a strut, head up high and keep on moving. Then I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a store window or mirror and I am reminded that I am fat. But fat was never a word that bothered me UNTIL others made that word seem so disgusting and ugly.
So I gave up dieting. I wanted to be happy and I needed to take that added pressure off of me to be a certain size or eat a certain thing. I couldn't do it anymore. I have spent my whole life being overweight and dieting on and off. It was this constant yo-yo that became overwhelming. Being fat never stopped me from living life. I traveled the world. I continue to have a successful career. I have great friends. I never had a problem getting a man. I dress nice and have no problem finding nice plus size clothing. I basically lead a normal life.
That's not to say that I escaped the rudeness that fat people have to endure in this world. People can be critical, judgmental jerks. That much is true. Their words and insults hurt me deeply. But I never let it stop me from living life in the best way I could.
Then a year ago, I started having heart palpitations. Now I have always been healthy to a point. I went to the doctor regularly and the only thing I have battled on and off with is my blood pressure. But I've never had diabetes, cholesterol problems or anything serious like that. So of course, I went to the doctor.
As I blogged last year, I was diagnosed with extremely high blood pressure and it was affecting my heart. The doctor was shocked that I was still walking around because basically, I was a walking time-bomb.
This scared me "healthy". I gave up soda (my 1-yr "anniversary" will be Dec 27th), started eating more vegetables, gave up fried foods and gave up fast food for the most part. I occasionally have a burger or indulge in some Taco Bell once in a while but I am afraid to even look at a Big Mac or step foot into a Five Guys. I read labels now and that keeps my fear going. I talk a lot about being fearless but in this case, I welcome the fear because it keeps me on the right path to be being healthy. It motivates me to keep walking and being active. It keeps my shopping cart empty of bottles of Pepsi and Devil Dogs.
A year and a half later, I feel great. I always thought I had a weak stomach and that's why I was always sick. I now know it was because I was eating the wrong things plus drinking soda. My blood pressure is normal and has been for almost a year now. And added bonus...I'm down 3 sizes. Ironically, I'm still fat. But now I am fat and healthy.
What does that say to those naysayers like Maria Kang aka The Fit Mom who say you can tell someone's health by looking at them and that people who are not physically fit should not love themselves? I wrote a piece about Maria Kang on the PLUS Model Magazine blog and I have to say, it's hard to be objective when it comes to people like that because she reminds me of all the people in my life who have criticized me on my size and didn't take into account that I am a human being.
I believe that loving yourself is the foundation of everything. Self-love makes you want to be the best person you can be, which includes taking care of your body and being healthy. Instead of criticizing women for loving themselves and being proud of the body they are in NOW, she should be talking about low self-esteem issues with young girls, how negatively women are portrayed in the media, yo-yo dieting issues and eating disorders. Let's tackle the real issues here and not attack those women who are one step closer to living a healthy life because they have achieved the hardest step, which is loving and accepting yourself for who you are.
Who you are today does not guaranteed who you will be tomorrow. Loving yourself means wanting to be better. So evolving and growing in life is a natural step in that journey. I love where I am today and I am excited for who I will be tomorrow. And that's what counts. For now, I am fat and healthy and I embrace that.
Dress: Igigi (it's fabulous and my fave at the moment!) |
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