Staying true to yourself amidst change

This summer has truly been the best summer I have had so far and I owe a huge part of that due to the fact that I am staying true to my authentic self and am doing things that make me happy even if it doesn't make sense to other people.

The people who really matter to me and love me are the people who allow me simply be myself. I leave for school 2 weeks from today and this always fills me with an overwhelming array of emotions but especially this year as I am entering my senior year and wish time would slow down.

Change has always been hard for me. Change is also inevitable. Change can be scary but also so exciting. I stumbled upon a quote I really liked the other day -- "You are alive. There is love waiting to be felt, there are good days waiting to be lived. Keep going" !!! I don't want to be afraid of change anymore. Change is part of life and it makes us human. How lucky are we to have so many experiences in this life that we have yet to endure.

So with a time of change and transition approaching it is so important for me to continue to bring my strong sense of self with me. I have always felt like I have needed to conform to the way other people live in order to fit in but I don't want to do that anymore. I challenge you to join me in learning to love your true and authentic self without trying to be like others in hopes of being well received.

Not everyone is going to like you. That is definitely a hard pill for me to swallow but is something else I want to break free from. People pleasing is exhausting. Instead of constantly trying to make everyone happy or everyone like you, start protecting your energy and keeping it for yourself. Share your energy with the people who believe in you, the people who fill your cup, the people who light you up!

As I am continuing to navigate eating disorder recovery I am learning to love and accept my body at all stages of life. It is not worth missing out on 95% of your life to weigh 5% less. The people who truly love you don't give a f*ck what you look like or what the number on the scale says. Go get the drink, enjoy the yummy food, workout when you want to but rest when you need to. Your body is worthy of acceptance just as it is. We can't hate ourselves into a version that we love.

Everyday we wake up with a choice. I have gotten myself to a point in my life where I wake up every morning with the choice of choosing joy or letting my thoughts taking control of me. I ask God to come into my head in the morning before I do. I express gratitude in my journal and enjoy my sweet cup of coffee. I choose to eat 3 meals and live my life rather than thinking about how I can shrink myself.

You can break free. Everyone is going through something. BE KIND!!! Treat people the way you want to be treated. Love loudly, live boldly, be quiet when you need to be, spend time with the people who bring out the best in you, live your life how YOU want to live it.

So yes, change is coming. But I get to choose how I react to that change. I get stay true to myself and continue to commit to being the best and happiest version of myself. Good things are coming. It takes time. I still struggle everyday but with that I get stronger.

KEEP GOING!!!

You are so loved,

Mo;