Fat Is Not a Bad Word: Inspiration

Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts

My Mom Is My Hero

It's Father's Day weekend, but since my dad's a deadbeat, I'd like to write a post honouring my other parent: the bravest, most beautiful person I know.

My mom is a warrior. She's survived so much:

-abusive relationships

-anorexia

-getting an epidural that would fuck up her tailbone for decades

-being paid a fraction of what she's worth doing a job she loved too much to quit

-subsequently quitting that job because her Fibromyalgia became too severe

-starting a mental health coaching business inspired by the support group she started in 1999 to help anxious kids like me

-getting ropivacaine injections in her head and then holding my hand while I get the same shots down my spine

-pretty much being my 24/7 caregiver when my pain and fatigue are too much to handle

-doing everything with empathy and love.

The truth is, I've tried so many times to write about my mom and what she means to me, but when a person is so special, so multi-faceted, how could a few hundred words on the Internet do her justice?

I guess the main thing I want to say is that, I know parents don't get to choose which of their genes to pass on, and I know I got some shitty ones (predisposition to mental illness and high blood pressure, anyone?!), but I got some incredible gifts instilled in me thanks to my mom, too. Like passion and empathy and the ability to express myself through writing. And I know if she could have had a say in what genes to give me, these positive ones I see in her are all I'd have.

I'm the luckiest daughter in the world. I mean that. Love you, Maman.

Music Saturday: Love Buzz

Tonight is the 20th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death. Since he's a major influence of mine, tonight is incredibly melancholy, but also inspiring. After all, Kurt was an innovative writer, an unforgettable performer, an intersectional feminist and a style icon.

Today I'm motivated anew to use my time on earth wisely: to inspire, to create, to love and to be happy-- and to listen to amazing music.

So I hereby resurrect Music Monday... A little early (late?) in the week, but nonetheless... It lives on. Just like Kurt.

Listen to "Love Buzz" by Nirvana here, and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

P.S. If you need a laugh today... "Smells like..."! And check out this Kurt Cobain paper doll. Adorable!

On Choice & Mental Illness

Here's the harsh reality:

We who battle mental illness will continue to do so for the rest of our lives. There's no cure. That's fact-- Just like we didn't choose to be born with a gene that predisposes us to mental illness, and/or didn't choose to experience the trauma that led to our developing a mental illness.

There is one matter in which we have a choice, though: we can choose to thrive. Some days will be hard. Some weeks, some months, maybe some years. And we might have to work harder than most.

But that's okay.

What I've learned, in my 20 years as a mental illness survivor is that hopefulness, self-love and persistence can take you far. Much farther than you ever dreamed.

Dream.

And then, work toward your goals.

You can do this. Recovery (and a happy life) is in your grasp. Don't let anything (illness or otherwise) stop you. You can do this.

Never, Ever.

Source

Inspiring Imagery

With the growing popularity of Tumblr, Pinterest, IMGfave, I'm inspired to try a little something different with today's blog post. This is a collection of inspiring images I've found around the web (sources included when possible). If you like it, we'll do it again soon! Let me know if there's a picture you'd like me to include next time.

Ville Valo

Kaley Cuoco

Worshipping Winter Citrus - DesignSponge

Source

Pretending

My mom emailed me a really inspiring quote this morning. So I thought I'd share it with you:

"Pretend to be the person you want to be. One day you'll realize you are no longer pretending"
-Anonymous

It's reminiscent of "fake it 'til you make it", and I like that.

Sometimes, convincing yourself to take on a quality is a self-fulfilling prophecy which allows you to develop the quality in earnest.