As you all know I haven't been doing a whole lot of blogging lately. Mostly because, as I said a few weeks ago, I am a little tired of "hearing" myself and I want to do more learning and more listening before I start spouting again! Meditation each morning with Mitch and Ms. Roxburry has been a great way to begin each day. Guided meditation helps set an intention and today that intention was completely in line with my speaking less and listening more...
The other reason I have been "quiet," is because I find I am conflicted about certain aspects of my life and my business and I need to sort it all out. It's always better to think things out before we speak.
As for it being Vegan (Feast) Thursday, all I can say is that the world is so mixed up and upside down, I just wish we could all exercise a little more compassion and I know from personal experience that since I stopped eating animal products, I feel much more connected to the entire universe. Always the ultimate dog lover, I see ALL animals in a much lighter, light and after all, we are ALL animals!
But today I am totally stepping away from blogging about a plant-based diet in order to share an image that has me totally conflicted on so many levels....both personal and professional. This was shared by Alexis Wolfer of thebeautybean.com.
Photo credit goes to Meg Gaiger of Harpyimages. It was shared a couple of days ago and has left me doing a lot of thinking...We have all got to stop obsessing about the number on the scale (definitely myself included) and the images (ALL digitally manipulated) we see of models, actresses and celebs. This doesn't mean we let ourselves go and stop caring. It means we do the work of being physical and eating healthfully and nurturing our souls. But it's confusing. What's healthy to you, might not at all be healthy to me. So we have to do our homework and be honest with ourselves.
So, if my students, clients and friends find me changing the subject about the pound or two you gained or lost, I am not at all not interested, I am just working on being a better role model. We know it's not our job to ask others to do or be more or different than they are. It's our job to work on ourselves and be the best ME we can.
I am asking for random feedback today. I will have to approve your comments before they will appear and I am off to do my CPR renewal in a bit, but I will be back later. Please, I want to hear from you and feel free to share with others.
Health and fitness is my business and my passion, but when there are lines that blur with regard to weight and I need to sort through all of this to be better at what it is I love. Children are also a great passion of mine and I want us all to be sending out the healthiest messages we can to them.
And now I will return to the listening. Thank you!
Acceptance is key - everyone can improve and it is great to have goals, but everyone should feel accepted as we are all in different places. It amazes me how quickly someone who has struggled with weight issues and made progress with weight loss will suddenly forget their own personal struggle and become a critic of others who are struggling with weight. Why is this? Everyone needs acceptance and encouragement whether they are fit or overweight. Social media should not be allowed to dictate what the perfect size is when there is no authenticity there, since the models are photo chopped, air brushed, etc. Personally, I am on "my own journey" with getting fit and it won't look like your journey. My job is to be positive and to be an encourager. If you have the good fortune to have been born with great genes - don't think less of folks who aren't that fortunate. Everyone is different and that is a good thing. Do we really want to live in a "cookie cutter" world? In my opinion, there is way too much emphasis on an individual's size and not on their health. Be kind and then you truly will be beautiful regardless of your body size.
S
Sheree
I love your Blogs Bon... they inspire me to be conscious of my fitness ability. As I'm aging I have lost a lot of the flexibility in my body I had so naturally before. However, it's not completely gone and now is my time to work on it so I will always be fit, and mobile forever.
Never having tall thin legs, I've always felt "FAT" small, but fat.... Looking at pictures of my youth I think, how did I not see how thin I was. We do need to instill in our kids, societies children, to be who you are, be a good person to others, and the rest will fall into place.
Vegan I am not. but conscious of everything that goes in my body I am.. Now, not always... I just feel better -15 pounds lighter. more flexible, etc, etc,
I have recently tried getting back into Yoga, just because I needed more then my treadmill...and with the yoga, I am feeling better from the inside out.... It would be great if as a kid, I was introduced to the benefits of yoga/meditation,,,
I rarely see Yoga for Kids anywhere..... maybe there's a new business venture in that! keep up the good work! Thanks for your inspiration.. Always, Sheree
Love to you and Mitch!
N
Nicole Jones Zipp
I 100% agree about the pressures from society to focus on the number on the scale, rather than how we feel. As tempting as it is to strive to achieve a special magic number on the scale, it doesn't matter if that number comes with a cost of feeling weak and lightheaded from starvation, or maybe bloated and stiff from "carb loading", etc.
I've recently become obsessed with the tv show, "naked and afraid". As much as it may initially seem like another silly reality show at first, this show is so much more than that. This show gives me a daily reminder of what true hunger can feel like, and shows all of us the true limits of the human body. Whenever I am running and the little voice in my head whines that "we can't take anymore. .." I can shush that voice, because I know that my body can physically handle the demands I'm giving, despite my inner voice complaining. But with the same token, it's a nice reminder to listen to my body, and treat it with my respect.
I love yoga too, and I've really missed my daily deals sessions of it, especially as I've been running again. ..
any who, I like the message you're delivering, and agree/support what you're saying about being fit and healthy versus skinny and "low weight". Love you mom-in-law!
B
bonni
In reply to Nicole Jones Zipp
Nicole...I never heard of that show but just Googled it and it looks pretty interesting. I will have to check it out. I am all about the physical challenges and love seeing what the human body is capable of. I get that motivation when I watch the Biggest Loser contestants do things like run full marathons, but I am skeptical as to how much editing is involved. As much as I push myself to run (and thank YOU and Kyle for re-motivating me a couple of years ago when you committed to the Disney run and got engaged (because I knew a wedding would be in our future). I think yoga is a perfect balance to the running so try to fit it in even if it's just one good session a week. You, my daughter (in-law) are beautiful inside and out and my wish for you is that is ALWAYS what you see when you look in a mirror. Thanks for checking in and for the feedback. I love you to pieces! NEED to see you guys soon.
Sherri...it looks like you have done a great job taking care of you and happy to read that you are feeling better about your body, your fitness, etc. Yoga for kids is awesome and there is some of that going on, but not enough. It should be taught from preschool on.....(Wishful thinking). My friend Rita incorporated it in her elementary school teaching for years. Kids love the names for the postures and do really well with it. Hmmmmmm. Thanks for your 2 cents! Much appreciated
And Sue... you always share some great insight. I know you have been on one great fitness journey of your own! Love what you have to say here. Especially love the last line.."be kind and then you truly will be beautiful...." Thanks for sharing!!!
B
bonni
I had no idea who to credit, except the site I found it on, Meg. But thank you for letting me know. The image made incredible impact on me, as it obviously did, many! I have gone back and credited you, so thanks Meg Gaiger for the image, for the info and for the impact!
5 comments
Susan Kaufman
Acceptance is key - everyone can improve and it is great to have goals, but everyone should feel accepted as we are all in different places. It amazes me how quickly someone who has struggled with weight issues and made progress with weight loss will suddenly forget their own personal struggle and become a critic of others who are struggling with weight. Why is this? Everyone needs acceptance and encouragement whether they are fit or overweight. Social media should not be allowed to dictate what the perfect size is when there is no authenticity there, since the models are photo chopped, air brushed, etc. Personally, I am on "my own journey" with getting fit and it won't look like your journey. My job is to be positive and to be an encourager. If you have the good fortune to have been born with great genes - don't think less of folks who aren't that fortunate. Everyone is different and that is a good thing. Do we really want to live in a "cookie cutter" world? In my opinion, there is way too much emphasis on an individual's size and not on their health. Be kind and then you truly will be beautiful regardless of your body size.
Sheree
I love your Blogs Bon... they inspire me to be conscious of my fitness ability. As I'm aging I have lost a lot of the flexibility in my body I had so naturally before. However, it's not completely gone and now is my time to work on it so I will always be fit, and mobile forever. Never having tall thin legs, I've always felt "FAT" small, but fat.... Looking at pictures of my youth I think, how did I not see how thin I was. We do need to instill in our kids, societies children, to be who you are, be a good person to others, and the rest will fall into place. Vegan I am not. but conscious of everything that goes in my body I am.. Now, not always... I just feel better -15 pounds lighter. more flexible, etc, etc, I have recently tried getting back into Yoga, just because I needed more then my treadmill...and with the yoga, I am feeling better from the inside out.... It would be great if as a kid, I was introduced to the benefits of yoga/meditation,,, I rarely see Yoga for Kids anywhere..... maybe there's a new business venture in that! keep up the good work! Thanks for your inspiration.. Always, Sheree Love to you and Mitch!
Nicole Jones Zipp
I 100% agree about the pressures from society to focus on the number on the scale, rather than how we feel. As tempting as it is to strive to achieve a special magic number on the scale, it doesn't matter if that number comes with a cost of feeling weak and lightheaded from starvation, or maybe bloated and stiff from "carb loading", etc. I've recently become obsessed with the tv show, "naked and afraid". As much as it may initially seem like another silly reality show at first, this show is so much more than that. This show gives me a daily reminder of what true hunger can feel like, and shows all of us the true limits of the human body. Whenever I am running and the little voice in my head whines that "we can't take anymore. .." I can shush that voice, because I know that my body can physically handle the demands I'm giving, despite my inner voice complaining. But with the same token, it's a nice reminder to listen to my body, and treat it with my respect. I love yoga too, and I've really missed my daily deals sessions of it, especially as I've been running again. .. any who, I like the message you're delivering, and agree/support what you're saying about being fit and healthy versus skinny and "low weight". Love you mom-in-law!
bonni
Nicole...I never heard of that show but just Googled it and it looks pretty interesting. I will have to check it out. I am all about the physical challenges and love seeing what the human body is capable of. I get that motivation when I watch the Biggest Loser contestants do things like run full marathons, but I am skeptical as to how much editing is involved. As much as I push myself to run (and thank YOU and Kyle for re-motivating me a couple of years ago when you committed to the Disney run and got engaged (because I knew a wedding would be in our future). I think yoga is a perfect balance to the running so try to fit it in even if it's just one good session a week. You, my daughter (in-law) are beautiful inside and out and my wish for you is that is ALWAYS what you see when you look in a mirror. Thanks for checking in and for the feedback. I love you to pieces! NEED to see you guys soon. Sherri...it looks like you have done a great job taking care of you and happy to read that you are feeling better about your body, your fitness, etc. Yoga for kids is awesome and there is some of that going on, but not enough. It should be taught from preschool on.....(Wishful thinking). My friend Rita incorporated it in her elementary school teaching for years. Kids love the names for the postures and do really well with it. Hmmmmmm. Thanks for your 2 cents! Much appreciated And Sue... you always share some great insight. I know you have been on one great fitness journey of your own! Love what you have to say here. Especially love the last line.."be kind and then you truly will be beautiful...." Thanks for sharing!!!
bonni
I had no idea who to credit, except the site I found it on, Meg. But thank you for letting me know. The image made incredible impact on me, as it obviously did, many! I have gone back and credited you, so thanks Meg Gaiger for the image, for the info and for the impact!