embrace

Three cheers for Friday!!!!!! I see there is no shortage of exclamation marks today, Brooke. Last night was officially my last track meet that I had to coach at and it feels weird. I don't have a meet to go to this weekend for the first time since the beginning of March and next week will be the first time I don't have to commute an hour for practice twice during the week. What am I going to do with all my free time?! So much time for activities now like: sleep, eat, sleep, workout, eat, repeat. 

Anyway, today I want to share a fantastic thing with you...or at least I think it is fantastic. So Sarah posted this link on her blog the other day and it just hit home for me. Today I want to share with you the Body Image Movement. I love what Taryn's mission is for not just herself and her daughter, but for women everywhere. We need more women (and men) that believe in the power of things like the Body Image Movement. We need more people to love their bodies and themselves. 

'In 2012, while contemplating my impending plastic surgery which would make my breasts perky plus neatly tuck away that excess fat on my stomach, I had an epiphany.

If I go through with this, what am I saying to my daughter about body image? How will I teach her to love her body? How am I going to encourage her to accept and love her body, when I am standing in front of her with a surgically enhanced body? What type of hypocrite or mother would I be? 

Presented to me at that moment of realisation, were questions I needed to address, and within that moment, I knew the answer. It was clear. I chose Mikaela, and the future of my daughter. 

With the decision to cancel my surgery firmly in place, it still left me with the awareness that I was stuck in a body that I didn’t love, with parts I detested. I was at rock bottom, I hated my body more than ever. 

Then a thought popped into my head. What if? What if I could live happily with my body? Was this even possible? 

I picked myself up off the floor, wiped the tears from my eyes and looked into my mirror. Bursting from my soul came my old friend Taz. The one I knew and loved, the happy-go-lucky self which had been hiding for too long.

She simply said, “You can do this”. 

And so began this journey. This unwavering desire to teach, educate and shout around the world that loving your body can bring you happiness and by learning to do so, change lives forever.'  - Taryn Brumfitt 

I think the most powerful part of this video that really hit home for me are the responses that women gave her when they described their own bodies. So many women and girls, including myself, are too quick to find their faults instead of all the beautiful and wonderful things about their bodies. Our bodies are strong and powerful and full of life, we need to respect them and respect ourselves. There is no such thing as a perfect body, but there is such thing as a healthy and happy one. 

So, do me a favor today and take a second to find some positives in yourself. And then do a happy dance to this song, because it's Friday and that's what we do on Fridays. We choose to be happy and we dance. 

Cheers to you!

<3 BB