Category: Inspiration

  • “Surround yourself with people who want to see you grow”

    “Surround yourself with people who want to see you grow”

    Okay, so at this point you guys have to know I love quotes (yep, I’m pretty cheesy). This quote is compliments of the Vallette Cleaners sign in my hometown – but it couldn’t be more true and completely stuck with me this past week. So heck, why not do a post focused on it?

    Since launching The Curve Confessions over a month and a half ago, I’ve seen copious amounts of love and support – extending from friends and family, to old peers and people on Instagram that I’ve never even met. It absolutely warms my heart to feel this kind of support in something so close and personal to me, and I’m sharing it with you all in hopes to make a difference. I truly hope it does in some way.

    Every single person I’ve talked to about the blog has been so supportive – and this is a shout out to all you beautiful people. I’ve completely found something that I love – and it’s exciting – but it wouldn’t be possible without you all. Seriously.

    This quote stuck with me because the people I love want to see me grow. And because of that, I am growing. So on this gorgeous Sunday, give some love to those close to you. Be grateful for everything you have and the people around you, and focus on all the good things in your life today. I 💜 YOU ALL.

    Shout out: to my colleague Alice, who helped me come up with this entire idea and helps me become a better writer every single day. 

    Shout out: to my colleague Meghan, who shot my first big photoshoot for the blog, and also keeps me so excited about it day in and day out. PS-don’t worry guys, more photos are coming 😉

  • Penn State Football Kicker’s Inspiring and Brave Body Image Story

    Penn State Football Kicker’s Inspiring and Brave Body Image Story

    Joey Julius, kicker of Penn State University’s football team, is a superb athlete. But what you may not know about him is that he has struggled with body image issues and binge eating disorder almost his whole life. If you’re unfamiliar, binge eating disorder is one of the most prevalent eating disorders among adults, characterized as recurring episodes of eating large quantities of food. This past weekend, I learned more about his inspiring story. Check out the video from ESPN here: http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=17797877

    The public isn’t always made aware of athlete’s struggles with body image, but Joey was strong enough to bring his issue into the public eye. Him doing so is moving – and will help others to realize that it’s okay to feel the way you feel, and it’s okay to admit you have an issue. But it’s also okay to change your life for the better, even if it’s scary as hell.

    Like Joey mentions, guys and athletes have an expectation to just “be a man” or “rub some dirt on it.” As a guy, admitting he had an eating disorder was likely not easy – but his honesty and willingness to make a change got him the help he needed. Additionally, public speaking in itself is terrifying – and Joey doing so on such a personal level is incredibly brave of him.

    It’s so important to acknowledge that body image issues don’t solely apply to women – but men can be affected too (and like Joey, guys or athletes shouldn’t be afraid to get help or admit they’re struggling). Same goes for us all – we owe it to ourselves to improve how we see, talk about and treat our bodies. And if that means asking for help, so be it.

    Men and women everywhere have an immense pressure on ourselves to look a certain way. But guys, six packs and zero percent body fat aren’t the reality. The way you look is perfect, and if you don’t see that, I hope this post (and my blog) can help you.

    Whether you’re struggling with an eating disorder, the way you see yourself in the mirror, or whatever the case may be – there’s one answer to help all of those things. And that is change. Joey’s change was seeking a treatment center, but yours may be therapy, amping up your exercise routine, making a point to be healthier, or just simply changing your thought process to accept yourself.

    Whatever your story, or even if you’re a bystander of a friend going through issues – we all have a part in the body image movement. Here are a few things you can do today to help:

    • Be nice to your body. Exercise as much as you can, eat healthy, and always remember to tell yourself positive things about you and your body.
    • Accept others bodies and praise them, don’t be jealous or mean. Everyone’s on their own journey. So reconsider the next time you make a fat joke, get jealous of a celebrity’s body, and try making a point to praise others and tell them they look great. Remember, you look great too, and everyone deserves to be praised.
    • If it’s feeling like you can’t do it alone or these issues are affecting your overall well-being, seek help. Whether that’s therapy to talk through your thoughts, a treatment center, or confiding in a friend – do what you need to do to feel better. Positive self talk and the strategies above are great, but they may not be enough. And that’s okay.

    Thanks to my amazing Dad for sending me this story. I love you! And thanks to Joey Julius for being so open and inspiring. I don’t know you personally, but you are truly an inspiration.

    Photo credit: Nick Knouse

  • Next Time You Talk Negative, Think of Your Best Friend

    Next Time You Talk Negative, Think of Your Best Friend

    In tandem with World Mental Health Day earlier this week, Yahoo Finance posted an eye opening and emotional video of best friends saying negative things they’ve thought to themselves about their bodies, but aloud to each other. Check it out here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=LzT2ZzDXceg 

    Watching this video brought tears to my eyes. To hear these women body shaming themselves was hard – and to be honest, I wanted to shake them and say, “What?! You’re perfect and amazing.”

    This video is a great reminder that we need to stop comparing, and we need to stop judging ourselves. But it also brought back some hard memories from my past.

    For almost my whole life, I’ve talked down to my body. I’ve said some dark and horrible things about myself and my figure – and I’m not proud of it. In turn, I’ve made changes to turn those thoughts positive. But there’s always room for improvement for all of us, and we must work together to rid ourselves of the negativity.

    One of my favorite people who I reference a lot on the blog, Ashley Graham, said in a recent SELF magazine article, “We’ve been taught to say negative things about ourselves. I decided to break that cycle.”

    Well, that’s what I’m hoping to do, too.

    So accept those around you, and accept yourself – flaws and all. And hell, don’t be afraid to compliment yourself and show yourself some love – whether it’s your smile, your outfit, what you achieved today, or how your amazing body looks, don’t forget to give yourself some encouragement. Yes, you can do this out loud. Whether it’s while looking in the mirror, writing in your journal, wherever, it’s SO important!

    I spent too many years not doing it – so I’m giving myself some major catch up time. You should too.

    Body shaming and negative self-talk comes in many forms – and it is mostly internalized. The next time you criticize yourself, body-related or not – imagine yourself having to recite these words aloud to your best friend. Painful, right? Think about this video next time, and maybe your negative thoughts will change.

    Sadly, according to DoSomething.org, approximately 91 percent of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape.

    91 percent – I’m in shock. I’m also saddened by this statistic – and I want people everywhere to know that you are worth it. Your body is amazing and unique. And we all need to appreciate ourselves for exactly who we are, even if it starts with a few kind words.

    So take this video as a lesson – and if you wouldn’t say that negative comment to your best friend, don’t say it to your beautiful self either.

  • Refinery 29’s Moving Campaign: #SeeThe67

    Refinery 29’s Moving Campaign: #SeeThe67

    Meet the invisible majority. 67% of American women are plus-size (considered size 14 and up), but they make up less than 2% of the images we see in mainstream media.

    Refinery 29 is making an effort to change that. If you’re unfamiliar, Refinery 29 is an online lifestyle site focused on fashion, beauty and style. Just recently, they launched a campaign called the 67 percent project. In short, it’s their pledge to feature plus sized models on their site, in their newsletter, as well as on their Instagram and Snapchat channels 67% of the time – from this point on.

    The mainstream media is consistently promoting stick thin models, but in reality, this is not what the majority of us look like. Refinery 29 wants people to see themselves depicted when scrolling through their content, or at least people who look more like the average woman, and this project is making that possible. Not only that, it’s pushing other media outlets and people everywhere to #SeeThe67.

    I can’t express enough how important this movement is – and how proud I am of Refinery 29. It’s not easy. It’s different – and it’s hard. But it’s beyond needed in this world. People need to be constantly reminded that they are beautiful no matter the size. And the more the media can promote this message, the more people like you and I will start to believe it.

    This past week, I got the opportunity to meet with top-tier lifestyle media outlets for a work event in NYC, one of them being an editor at Refinery 29. It was a super cool office, and an exciting moment for me in my career. But my visit there was meaningful in more ways than one. It was most definitely a great opportunity for me to meet with an editor of this caliber and get face time on behalf of my company. But it was also incredibly special to be there on behalf of The Curve Confessions, since their #SeeThe67 campaign is admirable and inspiring (and what The Curve Confessions is all about).

    Taking a stance like this is no easy feat, as the publication has been planning for months and faced hardships already, stating, “Not only have we faced practical challenges, but we’ve had to reckon with deeper issues of bias and prejudice along the way.”

    Refinery 29 bringing this issue into the public eye makes them a top publication in my book. So all I can say is thank you, Refinery 29. Thank you for taking your public forum and using it for good – and validating all those people out there who don’t feel worthy enough, or question their size due to the pressures of our society.

    Your message and campaign means a lot to me, and it also means a lot to women everywhere. But this campaign is only the beginning, and I’m damn proud to feel like I’m a part of it.

  • “Happiness is a journey, not a destination”

    “Happiness is a journey, not a destination”

    One of my favorite life quotes and words to live by, this is something we all need to be reminded of from time to time.

    I’m at the age where girls are starting to either get serious with their relationships, get out of them, or get scared of the lack thereof (🙋). And we’re all guilty of putting that time clock on getting married or having kids (i.e., “if I’m not married by 30, I’m giving up”). I’m not going to lie, I’ve made pacts with friends that we’d adopt children if we were still single at a certain age, and I recently told my family that I’m buying a dog at 27 if I’m still single (AKA setting myself up for success). But in all seriousness, there is no time clock ever needed on life, and these “deadlines” we’re setting need to stop.

    Though we all want that knight in shining armor, a woman’s success and happiness is sure as hell not defined by having a man. And that life we all yearn for (a hot guy, kids, dog, and a house per say), is going to happen eventually. But that “dream life” is not going to be perfect, and shouldn’t be the only thing that’s going to make you happy.

    Being present, loving yourself and your life for what it is now – this is what will bring you happiness today. And if you’re not content, then do something to change that immediately – whether that’s changing jobs, getting out of shitty relationships, or picking up a new hobby.

    There is no time clock or “end in sight” when it comes to achieving happiness, and that’s because it’s a constant journey that we’re all on day in and day out. Don’t get me wrong, everyday is not going to be rainbows and butterflies, and we all have tough times. But how you come out of those situations and how you face life everyday – that is up to you.

    Yes, I am single as a pringle and there is literally no love interest in sight. But that doesn’t define me. I define me. And someday, I will find my perfect guy. But until then, I’m working on one of the most important loves: the one with myself.

    Take a moment today to be thankful for your amazing body, your wonderful friends and family who give you constant love and support, your beautiful self and your beautiful life. Because it’s your choice to make it a happy one, today and everyday.

    Keepin’ it short and sweet this Sunday, peeps. Now go kick some ass 😎