As I get older, I have noticed that I need to be more kind and gentle to myself, especially toward my body. I may be small and petite, but I am not as comfortable in my skin as I used to be. Yes, I am a mom and weight shifts as we get older, but when did my belly begin to look like ribbon candy at Christmas?
This year, I decided to get fit and take the 30 day challenge at the kickboxing studio. It’s been almost 3 weeks of eating, exercising, and being more health conscious with a reasonable goal to lose 5lbs and have a flatter stomach.
It’s been a frustrating road because amidst everyone else’s lost pounds and inches, I have none to share. Funny thing is that I feel it on the inside: stronger, healthier, firmer. It wasn’t enough. I wanted people to see. I WANTED to see that I could do it. I needed tangible results to prove something..to whom (other than myself), I don’t know. Then, I read this quote:
“Get Off The Scale!
You are beautiful. Your beauty, just like your capacity for life, happiness, and success, is immeasurable. Day after day, countless people across the globe get on a scale in search of validation of beauty and social acceptance.
Get off the scale! I have yet to see a scale that can tell you how enchanting your eyes are. I have yet to see a scale that can show you how wonderful your hair looks when the sun shines its glorious rays on it. I have yet to see a scale that can thank you for your compassion, sense of humor, and contagious smile. Get off the scale because I have yet to see one that can admire you for your perseverance when challenged in life.
It’s true, the scale can only give you a numerical reflection of your relationship with gravity. That’s it. It cannot measure beauty, talent, purpose, life force, possibility, strength, or love. Don’t give the scale more power than it has earned. Take note of the number, then get off the scale and live your life. You are beautiful!”
~ Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
I needed to let go of my expectations and be grateful that I had actually stepped into to this new healthier lifestyle. I am not that number on the scale or inches around my hips. I am choosing to believe that the extra weight I carry around is strong inner spirit, filled with love and gifts to share with others. I need to focus on feeling still beautiful no matter what stage I am in and be grateful for the journey.