On October 31, 2008, I was just a girl grasping for hope.
I was struggling with disordered eating that still lingered despite my best efforts to beat it. I felt like I had made a lot of progress, but there was still a missing piece to my puzzle.
Self-love.
I fought a daily battle of self-acceptance, depressive thoughts, and anxiety. Despite the smile on the outside, most days I felt like I was crumbling on the inside. I was simply going through the motions of life and the days were passing me by. Indeed, I was truly thankful for so many wonderful people in my life, but the one thing I couldn’t be thankful for was myself.
I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to get to that place of self-acceptance or happiness, but I decided the first step was going to be writing about it.
And so it all began with a simple Boo on Halloween day!
I have always loved writing because it comes to me easier than expressing my thoughts out loud. It is just me and a keyboard or piece of paper talking to someone out there and thinking things through. Writing is a way for my inner voice to be heard when often it is silenced by all the thoughts swirling through my mind. Writing gives each thought a chance, each thought a moment to be heard and I often clear my mind or work things out as I write.
I guess this is why I was never meant to be a researcher. While I did spend most of my time writing in grad school, my writing was very very formal, scientific, and sterile in many ways. I felt suffocated when I wrote a research paper and I always felt like I couldn’t express my true self. In a paper, there was little room for jokes, sarcasm, stories, or occasional curse words (trust me, I could have used them many times!). It was all too structured.
I wanted to set my thoughts free.
Starting this blog was a way for me to have a creative outlet at a time when my creativity felt stifled in many areas of my life. OSG was the one place where I felt like I could express myself fully. I would simply write about what I wanted to write about, just like in my Creative Writing class in high school that I loved so much. My teacher had us make Creative Writing journals in high school and we could write whatever we wanted to in them. Personal stories, clippings, drawings, poems, deep thoughts, jokes, and anything that we wanted to share. I absolutely loved this journal and I would talk about my struggles with disordered eating, my love for delicious healthy food, animals, exercise, running, the desire for happiness, and whatever else I wanted to talk about.
Over the past two years, I have found that missing piece of self-love. Even on the days when I can’t find it and I am having a bad day, I know that it isn’t far away and it will come back to me. I have met amazing people along the way and I have been touched by the support and kindness of others.
Today, I write because I am truly thankful for these past two years, for sharing my life with you, the ups and the downs, and the discussions, inspiring words, and support. My hope for the blog going forward is to give back as much gratitude, love, and inspiration as I get from writing each day.
Thank you for letting me come into your lives each day and also, for allowing me to come into yours.
As a small token of my appreciation, I am going to do some giveaways!
1) Draw for $25 Glo Bakery gift certificates to be given out to 5 random people
2) Draw for a homemade batch of cookies, Glo bars, or muffins (any from my recipes page!) shipped to your doorstep.
3) Grand prize draw for $100 Glo Bakery gift certificate to one random winner
If you’d like a chance to be entered in the giveaway, please leave a comment below telling me anything about your own passions, journey, or perhaps something you have grown to love about yourself. Contest closes Monday Nov 8th.
I’m off to the kitchen to shoot my video for Challenge #7! Hopefully there aren’t as many flops as last night. ;) Happy Halloween!
I recently started my own journey to healthy eating and self love, and found your blog on my way. It has been a resource for recipes and inspiration to become at one with myself and be the healthiest I can be.
Thank you!
Congratulations! A new step in my journey has been encouraging myself to be much braver in the kitchen! I signed up for a CSA and am pushing myself to try out recipes and creative outlets for new vegetables. It’s fun, healthy, and something I never could have imagined myself doing without the help from blogs like yours!
Angela, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the blog!! I have been so inspired by your attitude towards food and cooking. I read your blog everyday and love to hear about your latest recipes. Some days I read and feel like you put what I am feeling on the page!! I can always relate to you!
I’m so grateful that you are sharing your life with us through your blog and I’m so grateful for your recipes that help me introduce fun, healthy food to my family! The one recipe that I will forever be grateful to you for is the Green Monster! I was skeptical at first, but tried one and now I have them 3-4 times a week! They’re so healthy and always make me feel better!
Congratulations on the two year anniversary!
I have enjoyed reading your blog, amongst other heathy lifestyle blogs, over the past two years myself. I have gone on a journey to become a better me over the past two years, and I have learned to appreciate my spirit, embrace the body I have (it gets me through anything!), and to say what I mean, with confidence.
Thank you so much for hosting the giveaway!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Wow – you have such a following – the change YOU make in others lives should be such an affirmation to OSG…thank you so much (have you seen the amount of comments before this one!)
My passion has been to Choose TODAY! Choose to love myself TODAY – Choose to feed myself great TODAY – Love those around me TODAY – Choose my best life TODAY – not wait for anything for tomorrow and all regardless of my circumstances…make today the best it can be.
OSG has become such a part of this passion. I want to surround my thoughts and readings with those who are like-minded…and you are one of them (so are so many of your readers!)
Have a wonderful day!!
like you, i’ve been in a process over the last few years of learning to take care of myself for real including nourishing my body again for real. one of the most amazing fruits of that is my plan in 2011 to start a triathlon team for the women at our elementary school — i’m doign that not because i have experience with tri’s or with running a team, but because i know that in community i’ll reach my own goal to complete my first tri.
I am passionate about people. I love meeting new people and learning what makes them individuals. I love encouraging others and find that I am fulfilled by giving of myself.
I love your blog, congratulations on your 2nd anniversary! I recently took the time for myself, took a leave of absence from work to follow my passion for cooking and am in culinary school!
Happy Blogiversary!
I discovered your blog about a year ago, and have continued following it because we share a lot of the same passions: food, fitness, running, and self -improvement.
I’d also like to rekindle my passion for writing and start a blog myself someday.
Happy Birthday OSG and congrats on all that you have accomplished here Angela!
My passions are my family, doing good, and learning about this amazing world that we live in :)
Congratulations on 2 fabulous years! Your blog always makes me calm and happy!
My current journey is teaching. I am fulfilling my passion to teach young children each day and completely enjoy watching them learn as I continue to learn myself!
Happy Birthday OSG!
My passions include food and fitness, which is why I love reading your blog. =)
Hi Angela,
I’m very grateful for the time you take every day to share your thoughts and experiences with us. It’s one of the very few places here on the world wide web which is so full of positivity! Happy Birthday and to many years to come!
I too have found that writing a blog about your passions and sometimes everyday struggles is very therapeutic, as is meeting many new friends online and sharing your hobby with them. Blogging rocks!
Thanks for having the giveaway! xxx
Congratulations!!! I love your blog. When I want to bake I find a recipe on your blog . They all have turned out great.
Happy Blog Birthday! I only recently started reading the blog after choosing to get into better shape for myself. After the end of a serious relationship in 2005, finishing a bachelor’s degree in psych and a diploma in child and youth work, and internships, I wasn’t taking great care of myself. I chose to make a change in order to be in better shape for myself and for my future (I want to be a mom someday). Since beginning to make changes over the summer, I am dating someone new (a friend who became something more, who himself does weightlifting and is savy about proper nutrition and exercise) and it is going great! While people beginning to notice the weight I have lost, the kicker is just feeling in better shape!
Thanks for blogging! I have loved reading about your journey, especially your post about accepting things you cannot change.
Happy blog birthday!!
In the past year or so, I’ve tried to pursue my passion for cooking (when I have time). Hopefully I can do a lot more when I finish my Master’s!
Happy Birthday :)
A fabulous passion that is new to me – writing!
Happy Anniversary OSG!!! One of my passions is reading your blog everday! It really is an inspiration!
Happy blogiversary! I have to say that OSG has been and i think always will be one of my absolute favorite blogs. You have been an inspiration to me now only through your AH-mazing recipes, but through your commitment to fitness and a healthy lifestyle.
Never would I have thought that I could call myself a runner a year and a half ago, but I ran 5 miles with no walk breaks for the very first time today! My husband is a competitive runner, has been for many years, and I have always said that I am his cheerleader I will never run. Well, he was certainly my cheerleader today, he was so proud!
Because of him, and because of you and a select few other bloggers, my life has been completely turned around and is moving forward in such a healthy way.
My passion is to live life to it’s fullest… I’m getting there, but it will always be a work in progress. It’s still fun in the process!
Thank you for all you do… don’t EVER stop! :-)
Happy blogiversary!! I’ve learned that it’s important to be true to yourself – because YOU are the only one you have to live with forever.