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?
This is such an inspirational post, I am going through a testing phase on the career front, I really need something to lift my spirits.
This just gave me a reality check, and an inspirational boost. I am at a rock bottom point within my ED and the only way out is up. I want to get my glow back, and discover true happiness. Just like you have. I can control my happiness, and have the life i want to live.
I can’t thank you enough Angie for giving me hope!
What a beautiful post and I am excited to read this daily glow!!
This quote really resonates with me because I believe we are all have a purpose to be here and share our passions with the world! Helping people is the true way to love and happiness ;)
I love that we have the purpose to provide healthy treats and love to people through a natural baked good :) hehe
xxoo
Awesome idea – and much needed as I shiver in my office. :)
I love this: “This day let me make a sound beginning.”
To me, it is a reminder that every day is another opportunity to get it right, to move towards your goals, to put your best foot forward.
I love the idea of the Daily Glow. I often try to write inspirational stuff on my blog, not only for my readers, but for myself as well. Winter is a tough time and I definitely struggle every year with staying positive during the cold, gloomy days. Thanks for offering this quote today. It really is a great one :)
I like this idea! I also like reading your quotes! I don’t know if you’ve every heard of The Ripples Project, but they send out great emails every Monday with three quotes focused on a certain theme. It’s a great way to start the week off on the right foot!
http://www.theripplesproject.org/
thanks, will check that out!
Hi! I think that the Daily Glow is a wonderful idea! You’re right–sometimes I forget where I am–sometimes we lose our place in life with everything that’s going on around us…I’m definitely one to forget my purpose, or get caught up in the negative, so it was really nice to read this quote and be reminded of what I’m living for/ what my goals are in life.
I’m trying to start my own business so I can make changes in other people’s lives (and in my own!), so today, I will make a change in my current job situation in order to get closer to what I want for my life.
Thanks so much!
To me that quote means to make the most of life and don’t get discouraged by small setbacks. . Angela, you are SUCH an inspirational person. I found your blog right when I was in the worst period of my eating disorder. I still battle with it, but by reminding myself daily that life is meaningful and food should be an enjoyable part of life, I can honestly say that I don’t think I’ll ever resort back to such destructive behavior. Thank you Angela!
So proud of you Danielle. :) Thanks for your positivity. Good luck with your journey!
What a wonderful post, Angela – thanks for sharing your heart. I really needed to read this today, and it’s bringing tears to my eyes. My husband recently got a new job, and we’ll be living with my in-laws for four months before we move to our new city. I’m leaving a job I absolutely love, and I have no idea where I’m going. I’ve been feeling so run-down and anxious about it all. It’s made me cranky with my husband and I’m just feeling an overall kind of helpless feeling. Changes are hard, but you remind me that good can come of it. But it’s up to me to jump out there and make the most of it. Thanks so much for the encouragement.
I have a question. You said that your friend noticed you were glowing and you set out to make that your goal. How do you know what will make you glow? Are there particular books that you read or a newsletter that you are subscribed to? How do you go about researching what makes you glow?
Wondering how to proceed….
Thanks.
ka
By that I mean that I did things that made me feel happy and more positive. For example, not weighing myself made me much happier. Being open about my ED and talking to others about it instead of keeping it a secret. Not counting calories. Eating plant based diet. Writing. Finding out what my passions were after years of ignoring them. Things like that!
So thankful you’re improving/proceeding each and every day Angela :) For me, the things that truly give me purpose today or in life in general, is giving all my heart to God and loving myself for how He made me. His love drives me to love others as well, or at least do my best to show it to them because they’re worth it.
Hi there!
Do you have your email anywhere on here… I was trying to find it but I couldn’t see it anywhere! I wanted to send you a private message.
I really love this idea for “Daily Glow”!! I think it could make everyones day a little bit brighter.
Hi there!
Do you have your email anywhere on here? I was trying to find it… but had no luck.
I really like the idea of “Daily Glow” posts… I think it could make everyones day a little brighter.
Yup its [email protected] :)
I love this idea. I find your blog so inspiring. Especially, when I was in the transition from leaving a job that was taking way too much out of me to my dream of going back to school. Well, guess what?! I actually JUST STARTED NURSING SCHOOL this January :-D I’ve thought about your story a lot and it really helped me when I needed it. Anyway, I wanted to share a quote that is a big favorite of mine and its especially good for all those fellow people pleasers out there! “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” ~Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
What a lovely post – it’s so easy to get caught up in the business of our everyday lives and forget to smell the roses. I am in my early 30s and it has only been in the past year or two that I have really felt like I know who I am, I’m comfortable with “me” and don’t have to always worry about pleasing others. You inspired me to come up with some’goals’ for 2011 and I think that by pursuing those it will help me move closer to doing something careerwise that I really love. I am really looking forward to reading your Daily Glow for weekly inspiration.
What a beautiful post Angela :) For me it is so easy to fall into the mindset of ‘just another day” when it should be “A WONDERFUL NEW DAY!”
awesome post!!love your glow story. LOVE the idea…sounds very inspiring. i love how quotes can bring about so much thought and reflection. i want to take a few minutes each morning and night to reflect.
Oh my!
Did you knwo there was such a thing?? A tofu press???
http://www.tofuxpress.com/
Sorry a little random, but I’m so excited to share!
What a beautiful post! I’m struggling right now with my weight but I’m not going down a distructive path that I was a few years ago. you are right though, it’s on these dreary cold days that it affects us the most. It’s hard to stay indoors every day when you just want to go outside and run but it’s nature, we can’t be mad at mother nature instead take the time to reflect on how we can make our lives better by overcoming these feelings.
wow amazing idea and beautiful ‘space’ to create!!
sara