A few years ago, I decided that I was going to take control of my life and get healthy. My eating disorder was toxic and sucked the life out of me. I finally hit rock bottom and the only way out was up.
I knew I had to make a big change in my life, but fear made me resist this change for a very long time.
I started to take baby steps in the right direction, even though I often felt like I was taking one step forward and two steps back. It didn’t matter though because with a determined spirit anything is possible, I just didn’t know it at the time.
One day, as I was chatting with my friend Leah, she said something that struck a cord with me.
She said, ‘Ange, I can tell that you are being good to yourself because you have a real glow now that you didn’t have before.’
She knew that I was trying to beat my ED and her words of encouragement made all the difference. The word glow stuck with me so much that I decided to make it my theme.
From then on, my goal was to do things that made me glow and avoid things that did not.
It was simple and it worked.
Over time, I realized that inner happiness and confidence is more attractive than any number on the scale. I wanted to be a Size Healthy, not a size ‘x’.
Despite my good intentions, I don’t always feel the ‘glow’ in my life…especially during the gloomy Winter! It is easy to fall into a slump and just get discouraged about things in general. Instead of letting negative thoughts get the best of me, I now know that the beauty of life is not in being perfect or happy 100% of the time, but it is overcoming the challenges that we all face.
The good news is we can always take action if we are not content with something in our life. I used to see myself as a product of my environment, but I learned that I am in control of my happiness and no one else.
I don’t just want to be inspired, I want to harness inspiration in my life. I want to grab a big lasso, throw it in the air, and pull inspiration toward my life. Some days, inspiration hits me when I least expect it- a positive thought, idea, or plan of action- and I get all excited about it, only forgetting about it later on as I go about my day. If only I had written it down, I often say.
I have a blog, so why not write it down?
I have always felt like there is a wonderful energy on this blog…all of you. We can channel this energy and use it in a positive way to build each other up and inspire each other to do simple, but great things. My writings and conversations on this blog gave me the courage to leave my unfulfilling career. This is when I really started to realize that great things can happen when you put a group of people together…even virtually!
The Daily Glow feature will be a place to write down inspirations, thoughts, questions, themes of the day, quotes, and the like, as they come. They will be short reflections and inspiring thoughts to hopefully add some joy, reflection, and inspiration into our lives. Daily Glow will not be on a ‘daily’ basis literally (unless I am really feeling inspired that week!), but I hope to include this feature on a regular basis. Most importantly, I will need your help, your ideas, your contributions. I think that we can do some amazing things if we put our heads (and hearts) together.
I will kick it off with a quote that I love.
Life without a purpose is a languid, drifting thing; every day we ought to review our purpose, saying to ourselves, ‘This day let me make a sound beginning’.
-Thomas Kempis
I often find myself going through the motions of life, without taking time to reflect…to stop…to breathe. I catch myself holding my breath or taking very shallow breaths of air when I feel tense about something in my life. This quote reminds me to stop and reflect on my purpose, even if only my daily purpose. It is very easy to lose sight of what is meaningful among the clutter in our lives and in our minds. My goal for today is to reflect on the actions that I take, the thoughts that I make, and to be mindful of my breathing.
What does this quote say to you? What can you do today to live with purpose?
You are an inspiration. You truly do glow and your posts give me encouragement to stay strong. This post could not have come at a better time because I had thought my ED was gone, but now after many months of doing well I had a major slip up. I was feeling quite down this morning, but now you have given me the lift I need to move on and fight it. I thank you more than words can explain.
My purpose for today is to look after myself by staying with my fear and pain (my neck is really out of shape after visiting the Osteopath on Tue, not the intended outcome but hey!). I want to run away from it inside myself, but I know I have to be there for myself and I can do that by returning to the breath, as you say, and by remembering to smile and accepting that it’s okay to have a day where I’m not moving mountains :)…that such a day is not a failure, just a day.
Excellent quote. Something I need to think about.
I recently moved to Spain and have been struggling with my new life, finding my new purpose. I gave up my career in the States to move for love. I have thought my new purpose needs to be no purpose – no deadlines and “career furthering.” I am so type A this move has been a lesson in relaxing and enjoying. The European life is far from my normal.
Great thoughts for today! Thank you!
I love this quote, ‘I have thought my new purpose needs to be no purpose.’ I totally understand what you mean…sometimes there is no need for a defined purpose other than to just be. :)
What a great idea!
I’m struggling with an ED right now, and I just want you to know how much this blog has helped me! =D
I definitely need to hear that quote right now. I’m about to graduate, and therefore that question is staring me right in the face!
Too often I find myself just going through the motions, living for the weekend. I need to be more mindful/aware of things because who just wants to get by in life? Inspired by your story, I’m focusing on overcoming my own struggles with eating. You have some great recipes on here that are keeping me busy in the kitchen and satisfying my stomach. Sweets are my biggest problem, but the recipes of yours I have tried don’t set off any triggers- I’m able to enjoy them responsibly so I don’t end up feeling deprived.
I think finding your purpose in life is essential to fulfilling all we were created to be. Thank you for sharing that powerful quote today.
As always, your thoughts are insightful, thoughtful, and lovely! Thanks for sharing.
The quote reminds me to live with purpose, but also sometimes quotes like this make me feel nervous, like every moment could be the last… what am I doing? Why am I just sitting reading this blog? I should be DOING! =) And as I enjoy reading this blog (among other things), I prefer quotes like this one: Bloom where you’re planted. I got it from “O” Magazine of all places. It has really struck a chord with me because as a mother, I’ve had to learn to be very flexible with my time. A schedule is great– until it’s not. Then, when things change, frustration abounds. So I try to take deep breaths and do the best I can– here and now. My son will not be this age forever, and I want to be present for him, and for the rest of my family, as well as continue to find balance between their needs and mine. To bloom means to grow, to prosper, to be healthy– not to just be stuck doing, doing, doing for others, which is a trap mothers especially can fall into. It’s a struggle not to give up on improving and blooming– after all, in the short term, it’s easier to say “I’ll do it later,” especially when it comes to my needs and wants.
absolutely beautiful!
Love the quote, love the idea of this daily glow reflection as well. I try to do something similar in my life and take some time every day to reflect upon my motivations for doing what I’m doing and to recognize my personal power and strength :) This quote definitely fits into my thinking that every day is a new day, and it’s up to me to seize the day and make the best of it. I have to say my favorite inspirational quote is “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are” by Theodore Roosevelt… I feel that the sentiment of making the most of your plans and goals carries through so many inspirational quotes!
Aside from loving the recipes, I love when you write posts like this, Angela!!
I am so glad that I discovered this blog few days ago. A huge dumping of snow and a migraine has kept me couch-ridden for the past few days, and I have definitely been feeling the winter slump. Your blog has reminded me of my own mantra “You are in control of your own life.” I was inspired to using my few days of forced couch-potato-ness to make the best of it, get productive, and to create my own blog! Though I have only just began it and I’m trying to figure out the technical aspects, I am so excited to see how it develops. I am a college student, so I hope that it will be a forum to share your time and money-saving healthy living ideas. Thank you, Angela, you’ve made the artificial glow of the computer screen reignite the sparkly glow inside me :)
This is a beautiful idea Ang! We could all use a little more glow in our lives:)
Ever since I started reading your blog back in 2009, I could see that you had that glow. You have been an inspiration for me to kick my own habit of disordered thoughts (I haven’t had disordered eating for about 3 years, but those nasty thoughts are still there sometimes). I look up to you and your glow, that I am actually searching for myself. Keep up the great work Angela! You truly are an inspiration, and I can’t wait to read the daily glow.
Great idea for a new feature, Ange! Can’t wait for even more positive energy floating through my Google Reader. :) Have a fabulous day, dear!
This is a really great quote! I think it’s very easy to get caught up in just living day today without focusing on solid goals and a reason for living. Life should be lived to the fullest but it’s hard to do that without knowing what the “fullest” means to you!
So beautiful, as usual. This blog is a safe haven for so many people, me included. It’s already an incredible well of inspiration, too, and it’s helping so many of us find our glow again!
Sometimes I get swept up in what in means to “succeed” at my purpose. I feel like I have to pursue it in a certain way, or go about it according to some made-up rule book. In a way, my purpose even feels like it’s just a tiny drop of water in some big world’s collective ocean. Like it isn’t as magnificent or huge or emphatic as I think it should be.
Now, I know none of this is true. I know that my purpose is perfect and valuable in its own right, regardless of what others have done before me or how seemingly small it might seem. No. No matter what, my purpose matters and is bigger than even I think it is. It is important and it is beautiful, and, quite terrifically, it is me.
The thing we always seem to forget is that the ocean is still within each tiny, little drop. Each drop is its own vast, unparalleled sea, one that nobody can harness except ourselves. In this, we are so much greater than we realize, and our potential for personal health, happiness, and inner glow is not only attainable, it is inevitable!
I love this! I can’t wait to read the Daily Glow. I’ve had an eating disorder for over 12 years, and I think I am going to have to go back into residential (for the 6th time, ahh!) very soon to gain about 35+ needed pounds. Seeing how you have emerged so happy and free after your ED is true inspiration for me. My new beginning is going to involve saying yes to more help and letting my body get back to a place of health. Thank you for your courage to do this.
Your blog always inspires me, Angela. I look forward to The Daily Glow portion of your site as I do the rest of your posts! Thank you for being you and creating such great “vibes” on your blog! =)