So I was on the floor before doing yoga (which I have neglected regrettably because I’ve been busy AND THAT’S A HORRIBLE EXCUSE UGH) but I was bending over stretching out my legs and my stomach was folding over my yoga pants. Now I know it’s done that before but I’ve been putting on some weight recently and red flags have been going off in my head. I remember it exactly. Almost two years ago, my weight started creeping back up, and I let it. But it didn’t stop. I know I’m more aware now and things are SO different, but still. I have to take every precaution because I don’t want anything to interrupt my progress per say. But lately I’ve been really and I mean REALLY in my head. I’m not acting, but my body image has been horrible. I’m almost embarrassed to talk about it because that hasn’t really bothered me in a long time but I know that’s crazy. As I’m stretching though, I realize that I preach all the time about self love. But I just hit a new level of self love. Self love is not accepting yourself for what you look like (because I hate to break it to myself, I most of the time express it when I’m not “bloated”) but it’s loving yourself for your actions. For everything you do. What you say, your mistakes. Who you are as a person. What you look like is so minuscule. I know I’ve been gaining a little bit of weight, and I don’t need to know that from the scale (because weighing myself is DUMB). However, I know I’ve been eating what my body wants, and sometimes a little bit more, and a little extra. I just have to be conscious, just like everyone else. Not in a bad way, just keeping in check with myself, body, soul. I don’t need to lapse for any reason. I just have to explore the love that I have for myself more, because in my life, that is what’s important. Building the best relationship with myself that I can. That’s the key.

"Don’t settle. Don’t finish crappy books. If you don’t like the menu, leave the restaurant. If you’re not on the right path, get off it."