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 love that I am finding out who I am, more and more each day. I love that I am making decisions for ME that I have wanted to make for a long time. I became a vegetarian this past summer, started training for my first 5K, and started to truly believe in myself. I love who I am and who I am growing in to.
*I also love your blog. It always makes me think, laugh, and zone out in Glo world for a few minutes each day. Thank you :)
I sort of feel like I am where you were two years ago. I’m working on finding out what my passions are.
Hi my name is Roanne and I am an alcoholic. I don’t mind breaking my own anonymity,it’s part of who I am but I am much more than just an alcoholic today. On November 11 I’ll be 2 1/2 years sober. I’ve learned to love myself again and to be the person I was meant to be. A good mother to my 9 year old daughter, a good daughter to my parents who have been there for me even when I was really hard to be around, a good sister and a good friend. Also for the last 6 months I’ve been vegan and it has opened my heart and my mind and has made me feel strong and healthy. I love reading your blog because even though we have very different backgrounds you have struggled and overcome an eating disorder and I alcoholism, that makes us more alike than different. Thank you for sharing your life and wonderful recipes. I think you’re awesome, thank you for being you! :)
Happy “Birthday”! I think I have started to develop a better relationship with food – no food is “good” food or “bad” food but it is just food. I’m also in the process of working on not basing how I feel about myself on the number I see on the scale… But that one is harder. Much much harder!
I am currently at a point in my life, fresh out of college, where I am still trying to find my passions. I’ve come to learn that it may have something to do with food :-) However, instead of getting anxious about the uncertainty of my future like I would normally tend to do, I’m trying my best to find joy in the process. I have the unique opportunity to just try different things…and then if I don’t like it, I can just stop. I trust that if I take the time to listen to my body (physically and emotionally), it won’t lead me wrong!
All I can say is I know where I’ve been (never want to go back there again), where I am right now (learning about and loving myself every day), and I have no clue where I’m going!!! Life is so incredible – I’m just taking it all in one day at a time!
Im in the process of learning that I cannot make everyone happy. I need to make myself happy first. Do what I want to do and not what other people want me to. It’s been tough, but I am learning as I go =)
I have a twin sister, which is something I’m so incredibly grateful for. It’s a unique gift and one I believe has helped make me who I am!
congratulations on osg birthday #2 and the healthy transformation you’ve made!
I am just now beginning my journey of self-love. I have always put others needs and happiness before mine. But I have realized that I can not truly be happy or give love without loving myself first. You are a huge influence on my life and my journey. You have given me hope on days that I have been down or on days that I was looking for some answers. Thank you for writing this blog, it has really helped me realized that I am just a normal girl with the same struggles as a lot of people and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Happy Anniversary :)
Congratulations on 2 yrs!! Thank you for sharing your story, day in and day out. Your writing always give me hope and it inspires me to keep striving for all that I want in life. You help me to believe that true happiness is possible., and even though I’m still struggling..I know I’ll get there. xo
I lost my Dad very unexpectedly on December 30th 2009. I have had a very difficult year and miss him every day. I have also learned a lot about my family and friends this past year through their love and support for my sister and me. It made me realize that life is precious and never as long as we want it to me. I currently work full time and am completing my degree part time in geography and I love it! I decided not to waste anymore time in a job I do not like, so I am going back to school full time to pursue my passion.
i love my patience
How I am getting my glow back
My name is Tricia and I am 27 years old. I live outside of Philadelphia, PA. I am married to a wonderful husband who brought along with him my wonderful 7 year old stepson. I have struggled with my weight for many many years. I was born chubby, remained chubby through childhood then teen years and graduated to overweight/obese through my adulthood. In another effort to “diet” I rejoined weight watchers and vowed it would work this time, I would use the tools and make the lifestyle change. I found a workout that I LOVE (Zumba) and through your website I truly feel like I am finally glowing. While I am not a vegan or vegetarian for that matter, your inspirational struggle to and eventual obtaining your own “glow” have truly helped me tremendously. While I havent used your recipes or food ideas (although they all look amazing), I have taken to your inspirational words, thoughts, and emotions. I am a daily reader. Your favorite quotes, from others and yourself, grace the cover of my weight watchers book. The 7 Universal Truths you posted a few weeks ago were printed up and is now staring at me from just on top of my computer monitor at work. I read them daily, and sometimes twice. With your help I have lost 42lbs since March and feel amazing in all aspects of life. I truly mean this, its not just for the chance of winning because I feel like I have already won (in life, love and the pursuit of happiness). It was by chance I found your blog but its choice that has made me stay. Thank you for being you.
Last year I moved to Scotland for school. It made me realize that I was more self-sufficient and strong than I thought. When I moved back to Canada, I felt like a completely different person!
One of my dreams is to be able work for myself…it may be opening a cafe…or starting an online business. I would love to be my own boss and set my own hours, even if that means a lot of work, time, and patience.
Congratulations on two years!
Congratulations! Since I discovered you’re site a few months ago it has been first internet stop every day. Love your recipes!
Happy 2 Year!! I’ve recently found my passion in photography. It’s still very new to me, but something I am pursuing even though it’s super scary to put yourself out there. I’m learning a lot, making mistakes along the way, but having so much fun at the same time!
I have a blog too and would love to be able to write professionally someday. I would love to win any of the giveaway prizes! Happy OSG Anniversary!
Happy Blogiversary! Congrats on your blog success!
I travelled with my husband to Uganda this past summer to work at a Children’s Home. It was there I discovered so much about myself and my passion to help others. My husband and I are hoping to go back and visit the children again someday.