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!
Happy Blogiversary!
I’ve definitely grown in the way I feel about my body and how I choose to fuel it. You continue to be such an inspiration to me. Thank you!
I have grown to love my ability to embrace self-compassion. Sometimes those that give forget how great it is to receive :-)
I have had 10 years of self hate because of my personal struggle with food. Because of the blogging community, I was able to get help and I am now in recovery. I have come to love me as me and I understand that my body will NEVER be what I want it to be. My body is perfect, just the way it is and I am so greatful that it has the energy to keep living.
Hi Angela! Congrats on such a graceful recovery what everything you went through.
It’s my first time commenting on your blog, but definitely not my first time here! I’m not commenting because of the yummy giveaways, but because I actually have something to say haha. I’m a sophomore in college and for as long as I can remember I have hated my nose, which is shallow (i see that now). I begged and pleaded to get something done about it and finally my parents complied. The day before the ‘big day’, i went in for the final consultation. When i arrived I broke down crying and realized this is my face and I am lucky to have such a tiny problem in my life. All in all, no one and nothing touched my nosey. And after everything, I love my nose. It fits me, its who I am and I know that if I ever unnaturally altered anything on my body, it would be one of my biggest regrets. My nose was just the beginning. I have always been very hard on my appearance, but I am slowly growing to love and respect my body and what I put into it. Your blog is not only delicious and creative, but extremely inspirational and beautiful :) I cant wait for more posts to come! Happy Halloween! :)
I read you eeevery day, and you taught me how to bake. I baked like 50+ muffins the other day. Carrot, zuchinni, beet, apple, banana, flax, oat, etcccc ;)
<3aly.
Over the past year, I have grown to learn that it is not selfish to love myself and put myself first. I trust that I know exactly what is right for me and I don’t let anyone make me doubt that. I love myself just for who I am, not for what I do and don’t do. This has helped me become happier than I ever thought possible. Life seems to fall into place when you really love yourself.
Happy 2nd birthday, OSG and Angela! GOOD LUCK on challenge #7! I know it will turn out fabulous as always :D
Happy Blogiversary! I’ve been a silent reader for a while now; your blog is addicting and your recipes are simply amazing.
I have learned to thank God and appreciate my body for all the amazing things it can do for me. I love the feeling of running on strong legs! I am so thankful that I have recently rediscovered ballet and realized how much I enjoy dancing. I am proud that I have come this far, but I still do have a lot more to learn! Your blog is a great inspiration and I am looking forward to your future posts~
I followed my passion for the first time in my life and became a yoga teacher 1 yeand and 1/2 ago. I am just finishing my Pilates teacher training as well. I would say, when you hear that little voice that says, “I could do THIS all day!” , listen, have faith, and follow!
I love your blog so much! Congrats on inspiring others for 2 years :)
My passion is helping others. It’s what is pushing me through the end of my schooling!
Congratulations to you! Going vegan has been a huge part of my journey. It has made me better physically and helped to remind me how amazing life is.
Wow Angela what an amazing journey you’ve had in the past 2 years!
I started following you blog almost a year ago and it inspired me to pursue my own passion and document it. Just this past September I graduated from the University of Ottawa, packed my car and drove to California! I want to be an event planner and I’m lucky enough to have dual citizenship so it was an easy decision to make. Along with my 2 other friends, I kept a blog of our adventures through 11 states in 11 days. It helped our parents keep track of us and gave our friends a good story to follow.
I’m living in LA now and got a part time internship with an event planning company. Things are looking good :). Thanks for being an inspiration!
Gabby
Congrats on the 2-year blog anniversary!
When I started blogging, I was in the same boat– not feeling a lot of self-love, and struggling with eating issues. Blogging was an outlet for me to “think through” my battles, and work on progressing in the right direction! Little did I know about the amazing community I would meet, or the enormous support I would find! I’ve never felt better!! :)
Hello Angela !
I am only 19 years old healthy voyager and I am currently studying in Amsterdam. Originally I am from Poland, Warsaw. I know I am going to take part in contest but would like to share my passion with others.
I have been always interested in fashion and art. Since I was young I was dreaming about making my own collections, drawing dresses during classes etc. when i grown up and when it was time to decide where i want to study i have chosen art school in Amsterdam. Now i am studying art and further on i am considering taking product design or interior design. Dreams can come true only if u believe in them strongly and make right steps to be closer to reach it.
Other passion of mine is cooking healthy living. When I was in secendory school I have started to take several diets but always the effect was negative . One day I have made the worst decision of all. I have suffered from anorexia for many months . Everyone around me was trying to help me but why they were not telling that i look good when i was still healthy??? So anorexia changed me entirely. My inner body, my look, my mind , my personality. It is true devil. It took several years to catch up everything. But still i am not the same person as i was. But also it opened my eyes for healthy issues. I have became more aware of health food, exercise importance etc. Now i am very conscious person, i cook healthy food for me and family. I am trying to help other people to go back to the right track. Now i am fighting with my weight because i have gained obviously everything that i have lost during my disease. Also thanks to your blog you convinced to exercise more and i can see effects which is truly wonderful.
Also my other passion is travelling. I am dreaming of building beatiful modern house close to mountains where i could arrange interiors and collect super modernish and stylish patteries and kettles. yes i am dreaming of having a family and cooking for them, making home made pastries, jams and pasterised cucumbers. Tradiotion rocks!
that’s all. I could write a lot but general issues are shared.
This is such a beautiful post, and one I am very thankful for.
You give me hope.
Struggling with an eating disorder has been both a blessing and a curse, but more of a blessing in disguise than anything else. It’s hard to take the positives from a seemingly positive-less situation, but out of the time I’ve struggled, I’ve learnt a lot about myself, and about the world outside of myself. The future is bright if only we look at it with a light in our heart.
And this post, (your posts in general!) is a light in my heart.
Any sort of hope, in any form, I take greedily and use it to strengthen my will.
Happy Second Birthday, and I wish you many happy days ahead.
<3
Eleanor
I’m passionate about feeding my family in a healthy was as possible. Without breaking the bank.:)
One of my biggest passions is baking and cooking. For the longest time, I didn’t embrace this passion because I was so fearful of food and terrified of weight gain. It’s been a process of learning how to balance it all so that I can enjoy life to the fullest while staying healthy!
I discovered my passion for nutrition and fitness a few years ago after graduating from college and already working at a law firm. I realized that this was not the job for me and that I was truly unhappy working at the firm. I am now in school for Nutrition and am pursuing my dream of helping people attain their health/fitness goals by using food as a medicine. I feel as though I can make a difference this way and I can also wake up wanting to do so instead of waking up dreading work.
I still work at the firm as I need income and I go to school part time but in two years time I will be graduating and at that point who knows where life will take me………. I’m excited.
I would like to begin by telling you that I am thankful you and the OSG blog. I am thankful that I have beautiul and inspiring woman like yourself who keep my motiviation up and my passions alive..
I wake up everyday knowing that I have the ability to do anything I set my mind to including all my favorite things and starting my day with first an amazing meal whether its a special VOO or leftover pizza , then perhaps going to bikram yoga, traveling the world especially crystal blue beaches and soft white sands, finding new trails to explore, writing whats on my mind, cooking what my taste buds desire, running through fresh air either in sunny santa monica or christchurch, new zealand, spending quality time with friends, playing volleyball with teammates and enjoying a fine wine or a corona on the beach without any thought of time.
Congratulations!!
I’m so grateful for being able to run – it keeps me sane – and for blogs like yours that have led me to discover how fun and fulfilling (and delicious!) healthy living can be!!
I started reading your blogs earlier this year when my sister recommended it as a source for vegan recipes (I’ve been vegan since March 17, 2010).
Since then I am now reading your blogs daily. I am at a strange place in my life where I feel quite lost and am trying to get back to balanced. I find your website, your blogs, your thoughts comforting and inspiring.
I see someone who was where I am now but found her way to a better place. So I continue to read your blogs seeking inspiration and guidance.
Thank you for taking the risk and starting this amazing website!