*Record scratch* *Freeze frame*
Yup, that’s me. You’re probably wondering how I got here.
Well, 33 years ago, at 11:52am, I was yanked from my mother’s sliced-open uterus and brought crooked-fingered and stubby-lashed into the world. (Yes, those are the first things my mother thought about me — those 1984 c-section drugs were something else.) This is, of course, after I made hundreds of people late to work that morning…
Yeah, I was a cute kid, sugar-coated and gleeful in my handmade Halloween dragon costume.
Yeah, I was an awkward teen, all self-conscious and chubby in my crystal-studded baby-tee, candy necklace, flared jeans, and weird double buns. (I wish people could fully understand the irony of me wearing that t-shirt, as I did not drink or do drugs, hadn’t had sex, and was in marching band, debate team, JV bowling, and part of the literary magazine.)
Yeah, now I’m a confident woman, all self-assured and fat (and fabulous) and literally not giving a damn if anyone else likes it, because I do.
You know, life moves at a dizzying pace. I can literally remember all of those moments — okay, not the day I was born — but they were all such a long time ago. And there’s so much time still ahead too. 33 once seemed old to my 23-year-old self, or my 13-year-old self, and I imagine my 3-year-old self thought that 33 was literally elderly. But I now realize I’m not even halfway through my life, and I still have so much living to do.
So if I can leave you with any “literally elderly” wisdom…never give up on yourself. I’ve been depressed, I’ve been bullied, I’ve had eating disorders, I’ve cut myself, I’ve had failures, I’ve hated myself more than anyone else could hate me, and I’m still here. That quagmire felt endless, but I’m through the other side. There will be more downs ahead, but more ups as well, and having the belief in myself will always be my guiding star.
So as a birthday gift to myself, I leave you with that. And…
with the chance to win $300 to Simply Be!
Enter below!
Can’t really empathize with the weight issues because I’ve not walked in those shoes – but I can empathize fully with the side effects of feeling not quite good enough. It takes a looong journey to fully be adult and see yourself clearly. Many never get there – for many different reasons. It sounds like you have made it. You look fabulous by the way. I love the razzmatazz dress, posture and attitude. Survivors who been able to keep play in their souls are the most interesting people on the planet.
I love your confidence! Keep believing in you! <3
Oh my I love this company. I just went to their website and they have trendy clothes that I think will actually fit. PLUS they have wide shoes… you know hard it’s to find fashionable wide shoes… fingers crossed that they are comfy too.
PS – fingers crossed that I’ll win, my birthday is on the 26th
Happy Birthday!
It sadly won’t let me click the enter button even though I’ve been redirected to Instagram and have clicked and unclicked and clicked again the follow
Button. 😩
Happy birthday fabulous!!!
Amazing introduction to your birthday! Happy Birthday!