More than a Reflection in the Mirror

Before you read my post, please take the time to read this post from one of my favorite bloggers, The Bloggess.

Now that you’ve read her post, let me tell you what I took away  from her post. For so long, I’ve felt unworthy because I’m a size 18 in a size 2 world. Jenny’s (I’m on a first-name basis because she’s my girl crush now) post reminded me that the reflection I see in the mirror is so much more than my image. Like Jenny, I’m a survivor and my body tells the tale. Below is just a partial list of what I’ve survived in my short 39 years:

• My parents unhappy & unhealthy marriage. I had no idea what a healthy relationship looked like, but on my second try, I found a happy & healthy relationship with a man who is nothing like what I thought I wanted. He's so much more and I'm grateful. He makes me laugh, he holds me when I cry, he's an amazing father, and as long as he continues to want me around, I will consider myself the luckiest woman alive. 
• A first marriage where I was both the emotionally abused and the abuser. I learned to tread much more carefully with my words after that for I know once they are said, they can never be taken back. Words have power to build up or to tear down and I aim to do more of the former than the latter. 
• The unexpected death of my first born, my daughter and the loss of a piece of my heart that’s never quite been the same despite almost 11 years passing. I have two boys now that while they don’t replace Hailey, they bring so much joy and love that I can’t imagine my life without it.
• A life-threatening trauma due to complications from a miscarriage and my then undiagnosed von Willenbrands Disease. I probably shouldn’t have lived through that and I certainly shouldn’t have been able to have children afterwards, but the doctors saved me and my ability to have children and I had my two boys without complications in subsequent years. They are truly blessings.

There’s more, but seriously – this is a pretty solid list. A list that shows I’m a fighter, a survivor and WORTHY – regardless of what I see in the mirror or what some may say about my weight because I'm not just my weight. I am WAY more and I need to remember that.

We all have life challenges that we’ve overcome, but we don’t recognize and celebrate them. So often we let what society or others say about us dictate how we feel about ourselves deep down inside. So here's my challenge. Write your list. Start from the moment you were born until today. What have you overcome and survived. If you're living through something now that takes your breath away & leaves you gasping for breath - recognize that you're surviving (present tense) because you haven't given up. After all, you are so much more than an image in the mirror and your list, your list will reflect who and what you are...a strong, courageous, tough, persistent champion!