The words that sting...

A lot of people ask me what got me started on my weight loss journey.  

This is one reason, out of many.

I'm an Aunt.  

I'm a very good Aunt.  I'd do anything for my nieces and nephews. 

They are my pride and joy.

A few years ago I was playing with two of them. We were playing hide and seek.  When I found them in the closet I opened the door and they both yelled "YOU ARE A FAT UGLY MONSTER!!!" I thought to myself - Did I really just hear that from them? Two of the most precious people in my life just called me a fat ugly monster.  Was it true?? Yes, I know they are kids and they don't mean to hurt my feelings, but it stung, really bad.  That instant I decide to make some changes.

Shortly after, we were at a family get together.  Everyone was eating, and I was the only one that was eating healthy. I wasn't eating cake, I wasn't eating all the good yummy stuff that everyone else was eating.  So what happens?  One of my nephews comes up to me and says "YOU ARE REALLY FAT!"  Did he not see that I was doing everything I could do to not be fat? Did he not see I didn't want to be fat?  That was it. That was the last straw.  I told myself I would NEVER ever be called that again from any of my nieces and nephews.  That week, I jumped out of my comfort zone and started CrossFit.  That's where it all began….

I haven't been called fat since then.  I was told I looked like a skeleton though. ha ha 

I'm going to be the best Aunt out there….

Look around…. Who is she?

Look around….Who is she? There are many ways to describe her:

  

She is gentle, but powerful.  

She can make you laugh when you thought you'd cry.  

She is confident.

She cares and pays attention to the little things.  

She has passion.

She adds beauty to the world.

She turned her cant's into cans, and her dreams into plans.

She is compassionate.

She is kind, loving, and patient…with herself.

She is authentic.

She saw every ending as a new beginning.

She is happy.

She had a way of turning obstacles into opportunities.

She is beautiful.

She went out onto a limb, had it break off behind her, and discovered she could fly.

She is brave.

She pursued big dreams.

She not only saw a light at the end of the tunnel, she became that light for others.

She is strong & determined.

She discovered her real measurements had nothing to do with numbers or statistics.

She remained true to herself.

She loved life, and it loved her right back.

She is brilliant.

She ignored people who said it couldn't be done.

She is daring.

She decided to start living the life she'd imagined.

She has spirit.

She colored her thoughts with only the brightest hues.

She is loyal.

She is perfectly imperfect, with beautiful flaws.

She woke up one day and threw away all her excuses.

She is positive.

She is fearless.

She has wisdom.

She held her head high and looked the world straight in the eye.

She is a good friend.

She affected others around her.  Quietly touching one heart, who in turn touched another. Reaching out to ends further than she would ever know.

She is worthy of love and belonging.

She is something special.  

Do you know someone like her?

Your mom, daughter, sister, wife, student, leader, friend…YOU?....

If you do, there's something we can do:

Love them. Affirm them. Thank them. Celebrate them.