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!
Just wanted to say thanks for all you’ve done! Your blog was a self-healing process, but along the way, you’ve healed many others too. I feel the same way about writing and after reading your blog have started my own (small) blog as a creative outlet. I also love your recipes! Thanks Angela.
Congrats! I have really enjoyed your blog as it shows a genuine self, one who is not afraid to make mistakes and share them. I am passionate about being a mom by teaching my children about God and His goodness, supporting my husband and then finding my true passions in life! I am on my own self discovery journey at the moment. Thank you for your generosity and fun, warm self! Blessings!!
Angela I have been reading your blog since the beginning. You have always inspired me. We are the same age and I’ve always struggled with finding myself. Just this past year I’ve truely learned who I am. I am a teacher with a great husband and life, but I got away from who I was in the hussle and bussle of life, now I live my life day to day although sometimes its hard not to get lost. Congrats on your 2 yr anniv!
Congratulations on 2 years!!! That is quite a commitment!
I absolutely love your blog and read every day…. and I love contests!
One thing that I love about myself – that I’m a runner. I don’t run fast and I don’t run long distances, but I’m a runner because I run!
Hello Angela!
You’re website is truly touching and a blessing for many people out there including myself. It amazes me to see the amount of people who all suffer with the same similarities, yet at our time of suffering we have never felt so alone and set apart from the world. Thank you for sharing your voice and inspiring others to share theirs. It provides us with hope and a smile that these distorted perceptions or ourselves can be beat.
My story started ajust over a year ago….
I had never thought much about my weight because I was always thing and ate and drank whatever I wanted. I was a smoker. I finally decided to quit the dirty habit Jan 2009. Within 6 months I had put on almost 30 pounds and boy did I feel it. I gain weight in my stomach so although i enjoyed my curvy bum, the pregnant looking belly really got to me. Friends noticed and made comments. I got so self concious that I wanted to drop the weight immediatley. I started taking weight loss pills on top of becoming bulimic. My bulimia was an odd case because I was so picky with what I ate, that I would barely eat anything but still make myself purge. On top of that I was an exercise junkie freaking out if I did not go to the gym at least 5 days a week. I tried therapists but they didn’t help. Friends did not listen (Ithink it scared them) I was so depressed making it through my last year of school. Finally I decided I had to do it alone. I worked on not worrying about calorie counting and tried to find joy in other areas of my life. It has been a struggle and I am still working at it. I want to be me again. Stumbling upon your website has really helped with your encouraging words and great recipes. (I’m actually eating overnight oats with banana and rasberry soft serve as I write this! YUM!) I have managed to get back to my old weight and now I have to work at maintaining it so I don’t lose more. I am happier and still working at becoming whole again. I can say I have not purged in 3 months :)
So cheers and thank you. You are truly helping out a lot of women and maybe men.
Keep up the glow!
L.C.
You blog is an inspiration. My passion is food and wine… more specifically how to incorporate both into a healthy lifestyle. Blogs like Oh She Glows inspires me to be a better person and take care of the body I have grown to love. Thank you!
congratulations !! i know you have helped so many women out there and continue to do so. many of us look to someone who has gone through struggles for inspiration, especially when we can relate to what you’ve been through. my personal journey has gone from one extreme to the next recently, based on big decisions i made quickly but am so happy i did it. im not working nights as a nurse anymore, just doing temporary per diem work, but now i am back in school full time getting my masters in acupuncture and eastern medicine. for the first time i feel like i am exactly where i should be, and i see myself helping so many people in the future and continuing my education in something i love and believe in. i think its so important to do what your heart really wants to do. even though im not making nearly as much money and money is tight, i have not been this happy in a very long time. i’ve finally been able to take time for myself and switch back to a “normal” schedule (not working 13 hour shifts during the night). the hours and stress of my old job and sleep schedule caused me to develop unhealthy habits, and i am finally able to take time to work through it. ive never been in tune with my body as much as i am now, and i’ve never been so excited to pursue something i truly am passionate about! thanks for sharing OSG with women everywhere, and we all hope you continue to bring great recipes, advise, and humor to our lives each day!
xoxo
Felicia from NY
Wow, congrats and happy birthday! I was able to confront a number of demons in the past year, and your blog has really helped me see that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Rock on!
Congrats Angela! You are such an inspiration to many. I have been struggling with anorexia for 10 years. I will be turning 25 next month, and my hope is to no long waste another year of my life being miserable and ruled by an ED. I have so many dreams and goals and I cannot achieve any with my ED. Thanks for your dedication to such a great blog!
I am just starting my journey to self love, I am learning to love the way it feels to move my body, and love the way good nutrition makes my body feel. I am excited for the journey, I am excited for every day. You have been a great inspiration to me. Thank you for this blog, thank you for all of the brilliant food ideas (without which, I would be lost) and most of all thank you for the daily inspiration to be my best me.
OSG turns 2!!!!! Congrats! Your blog is great and your creativity helps me to unleash mine! I’ve tried so many new things that I would’ve never tried if it wasn’t for all your delicious recipes and pictures!
So that being said…I love my creativity! From baking to face painting to decorating and party planning! I love it and my family loves that I am able to do these things! I love to exercise, run and I am a strong woman! I love that I am more confident everyday and as I get older I am more comfortable in my own skin! Thank you OSG for your daily laughs, struggles and recipes! Good luck on your entries for the food buzz blog challenge! I vote everytime!
Congrats on 2 years! I can’t believe it has been that long already, I remember starting to read your blog about 1.5 years ago – WOW!!!
I must say that your blog has been a tremendous source of inspiration for health, cooking, baking, fitness, and overall happiness!!! Keep up all of your wonderful posts :)
Happy Birthday OSG!
This is my very first time commenting, but I’ve been meaning to for quite a while. I found your blog during a difficult time of transition in my life and you have been a constant source of inspiration to me. Most significantly what I have learned, much in part from you, is that 100% perfect all the time isn’t realistic, attainable or worth striving for. I have held myself back so often from getting active, committing to a healthy lifestyle, or just seeking happiness because I fear failing. I still struggle with this, but am more open to the experience and feel less pressure. I always thought this pressure was external, but as I’ve been easier on myself, I’ve noticed I was the one imposing these expectations on myself. Thank you for OSG!
My passion has become cooking – thanks in part to your blog and all your great recipes! Happy Birthday OSG!!!
congrats! your blog is such an inspiration. i have grown to love what all my body can do, instead of putting it down all the time!
congrats on 2 years. I really enjoy your blog and receipes.
Hello Angela :)
Happy 2nd Birthday OSG! This is actually my first time posting, despite being a follower for the past few months. I am so happy to have discovered your blog and as my husband puts it, I am “addicted” to checking it daily and trying your recipes. I’ve always been fairly health concious, but have recently moved towards more frequent organic and vegan choices. This site has been a great way to introduce this “improved” lifestyle into my meal preparation and even my husband has admitted (grudgingly!) that a vegan meal can be good from time to time (I recently made your Quinoa Curry recipe and he loved it!). I also love that you are a fellow Ontario resident – makes me feel like you are my neighbour!
Thanks for your optimistic, well-written and inspirational site. Looking forward to continuing to follow your journey.
Congrats on 2 great years!
I have come a long way in my fitness journey. I went from not being able to run a mile to registering for my first marathon this Spring! I can’t believe it. It was something I always told myself I could never do. I can’t wait to conquer that old self-doubt!
Hey Ange! Happy (belated – I had to study for a midterm before I could reply lol!) Birthday to OSG!
Words cannot describe how much your blog has influenced and transformed me. It is the one thing I ALWAYS make time for each and every day to read. With it, I have been able to accept myself, overcome the majority of my eating disorder, and even learn to take on an almost completely-vegan lifestyle. Meeting you personally at the market just confirmed how wonderful of a person you are, and has given me hope for myself and my future. I find that there are so many things that you’ve gone through that I can touch base on, not just on restricting calories and being afraid of food, but also in terms of your career. Actually, a little over a month ago I decided to change my career goals from being an orthodontist (formerly chosen due to a high salary, among other things) to being a naturopath/oncologist that cures cancers by natural methods after really listening to my heart – and it’s been one of the most relieving feelings I have ever felt :)
I am so so proud of you Angela for coming so far and for living your dream! You give me hope that I will do what I love to do and will enjoy my life, no matter what happens in terms of myself and my education. You are truly an amazing woman! <3 Thank, thank you, THANK YOU for everything you've given me, and to all your readers!
xoxo always and forever,
Nat :)
As I get older, I’m impressed with my level of independence and my ability to achieve the goals I set for myself. Whether it was academic, work-related, or self-improvement, I’ve managed to keep myself motivated! I think the key to growth is never wanting to stop. Blogs like yours keep me inspired every single day! Congrats on these fabulous 2 years!