As I have been sharing on my Instagram, my husband and I decided to switch to a mainly vegetarian diet last year.  Choosing to eat healthier and cleaner allowed me to lose some weight.  This wasn’t something I was attempting to do, it was just a result of me consciously choosing to fuel my body with different food.  I was happy with my body and that happiness has led me to make better decisions food and exercise.

I have been trying to get some form of a workout in 5 days a week for at least 30 minutes.  I haven’t been doing anything extreme just walking, running, elliptical, or simple workouts in our apartment.  I feel great and had forgotten how much I enjoy working out.  I honestly believe I feel this way because I made these decisions for ME.  For the first time I made these decisions, not because I wanted to look good for other people or because I was reaching for that perfect societal body idealism.  I simply made these decisions because I wanted to feel better, to eat better, and to get fit.

There have been moments where I started to fall back into that mindset of working for something that wasn’t in sync with my goals and self-love.  Even when we practice self-love daily, it is funny how those little things start to slip back in.  I just need to lose 5 more pounds, I just need to fit into these pants, etc.  I have been working to be conscious of these moments in my self-talk. 

When I find myself falling back into those old habits or self-loathing moments I just take a break.  Yes, I take a break! This is a form of self-care for me, same as working out, but it allows me to reset my mind.  To remind myself that I am not doing this to lose those last 5 pounds or to get into a pair of jeans.  I am doing this because I like the way I feel when my body is moving and sweaty.  I like the way my body feels when I am eating clean and drinking my 80+oz of water a day. 

I spent so much time hating my body and there is never going to be a time when I don’t struggle with my self-love (that is alright).  I can make sure that I do not fall back into those unhealthy mindsets and habits.  I can take a moment or an entire day and just focus on reminding myself why I am doing this.  That this is for me and only me.  That I am not here to strive for an unattainable societal body image, I am simply here to better myself. 
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Remember…we create our life and our story simply by what we think and do.  

I’ve been thinking lately about the stipulations we believe make us a “grown-up”.  I remember growing up thinking that there was some sort of secret checklist all adults knew about that meant you had succeeded at being an adult.  You know the one that they always play out in the movies.  You go to college, graduate, get a job, meet someone, buy a house, have some kids, etc. 

Now that I am an adult, I constantly find myself thinking EFF THAT! Why do we think there are certain things we have to achieve to make us successful?  So far, I have done all but one of those things and I still don’t feel like I have achieved that success that society makes us all feel we must meet.  

I’ve decided that I don’t give a crap about that list.  I spent most of my adult life being miserable because of this idea that I had to check off the list to become an acceptable member of adulthood.  I found that being lost and not having any idea what I’m doing has been far more rewarding. 

Maybe you won’t ever buy a house, graduate college, meet someone, have kids.  If you are doing life the way YOU choose that is all that matters.  I know that it is graduation season and people are out there thinking of the next thing they must achieve on that checklist to adulthood.  I’m here to tell you to throw it out.  It might take you until your 33 to figure out your dream.  You will get lost and life will get hard.  All those things are perfectly acceptable. 

My advice, do not live your life to achieve a success that someone else thinks you need to have.  One day you will wake up and realize you lived your entire life for other people.  You will wonder how in the hell you go there.  Just remember that you hold the power in your mind and body to make life what you want it to be.
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If the choices you are making are for you and your dreams that is what truly matters.  It doesn’t matter what everyone else thinks about your life, it only matters how you feel about your life.  So, live your life and make it everything you want it to be.
 
*Disclaimer* I am not saying don't go to college.  I am simply suggesting that you do what you really want to do, despite what other's may think**