Monthly Reflections: September 2016

September has finally come to an end and it has been quite the month! Here are some life lessons that I’ve learned this month!

Create Healthy Habits, Not Restrictions

Unhealthy Inside and Out

Being healthy is a key component in living a longer and better life. Up until recently, I’ve treated my body like crap. I haven’t eaten the right types of foods and the correct amounts of each food group. I ate pizza, ice cream and every sweet unhealthy thing you can think of.

This lead me to become overweight and have other health issues. Being overweight has taken a toll on my self-confidence and my views on not just my body image but my self-image as a whole.

Being the “Fat Girl”

I hated being the “fat girl” of my friend groups and cringed at the fact that I couldn’t wear bikinis, or just bathing suits in general, without feeling like a pig with every bulge and layer of fat popping out clear as day for the whole world to see clear as day.

I couldn’t wear the clothes I wanted to because they were too small or made me look bigger than I already was. Running and doing other physical activities in gym class was absolute torture since I could barely keep up with the other kids. I felt embarrassed being out on the field still doing an activity that others could do in a short amount of time.

Wearing traditional Indian outfits during weddings and other formal events tops as the absolute worst feeling in the world. Although they are absolutely beautiful with all the intricate details, they are also VERY form-fitting and hug every inch of your body. It was and still is tough on me mentally.

There was always voice in the back of my mind saying “If only you lost 10 or 15 pounds, maybe you’ll look prettier in this outfit.” The mirror and weighing scale became my enemy and food was my safety blanket.

Time for a Change

But this month, I decided enough was enough. We’ve been given one life to live and I don’t want to spend the rest of mine taking medication after medication and end up being in a hospital due to my poor lifestyle choices. If I want to live a better life, mentally and physically, the time is now to change. No more excuses.

I’m sick of hearing that voice in my head that keeps telling me that if I lose the weight, I would be prettier, smarter, boys will like me more, etc. Call me selfish but I want to lose the weight for me and only me. I want to gain back the self-confidence and live a longer life.

The Journey Begins with Healthy Habits

So in order to start this journey, I did what any girl my age would do. I went straight to Pinterest to find the tips and tricks to lead a healthier lifestyle.

I discovered the importance of portion control, that you can eat whatever the hell you want but in small portions and in moderation.

Drinking a lot of water helps curb your appetite if you reach for food just because you’re bored. Because let’s be honest here, I have a HUGE sweet tooth!

I learned that I have to actually make time to eat breakfast every day and to start meal planning to have consistent eating healthy habits throughout each week. Since the gym scares me, I also found alternative ways to get a good work out in to aid me in becoming more active, like walking everywhere instead of driving.

Look For Something Positive In Each Day, Even If Some Days You Have To Look A Little Harder

Life is hard, complicated, and unexpected but it’s also equally exciting because you don’t know what’s going to happen next every day no matter how much you plan or schedule it. Positive aspects of each day can modify your mood and how you respond to any sort of interactions throughout the rest of the day or week.

Just recently, I was sitting on a park bench, next to a middle-aged woman, writing in my journal. I was having a rough day and she could definitely sense that fairly quickly because of how upset I seemed. We struck up a conversation about writing, and as we talked I discovered that I was sitting someone who was pretty darn interesting.

She told me that she’s a realtor now but back in the day, she was a creative writing major, a comedy writer, a stand-up comic in NYC and even wrote a few skits for Saturday Night Live back in the day.

Pretty cool, right!

She asked me if I was looking for a home and I responded that I’m not looking right now but definitely will after I graduate from college. I told her that I’m a sociology major and that I have a passion for writing.

Just before she got up to leave after our conversation had ended, she gave me her card and told me to contact her if I had any more questions as well as to send her my resume because maybe she could pull a few strings for me. I was absolutely touched by her kindness!

After that encounter, I had such a completely different perspective, a positive perspective, on whatever happened thereafter.

Always Be A Work In Progress

Everyone has something that they wish they could do better in order to change how they walk through life. No one is ever fully complete. I’ve learned how to create life goals for myself in all areas of my life (personal, academic, and professional). Have you ever heard the term BYOB? No, not the “Bring Your Own Beer” haha. BYOB stands for

BYOB: Be Your Own Boss

Have you ever heard the term BYOB? No, not the “Bring Your Own Beer” haha. BYOB stands for Be Your Own Boss. That’s exactly what I want to be. I want to be my own boss of my own brand. I’ve already started doing just that with this blog that you’re on right now!

I created everything, from the images to the content to the web design, and have done all the promoting all on my own. I think that’s a pretty good way to start, don’t you think?

One day, I hope to do this full-time and make money in the process because I want to turn this passion into a purpose and lead it to a profession.

Find Your Fire

Aeipathy: an inducing and consuming passion

I’ve found that my passion in life writing.

Telling a story or relaying a message in order to make an impact on someone is huge and I love doing it!

I’ve been writing stories ever since I can remember but have only recently picked it up again my junior year of college.

It’s so freeing to put my thoughts onto paper or a screen and it sparks a fire in my life. What have you learned this month? Let me know by a leaving a comment!