Same Weight. Same Girl.

So the other day I shared this in a Facebook Leaders group and it was scary... BUT... I have ALWAYS walked the path of sharing my scary if I thought it could help someone face their scary.

Both of those pictures are me. Same weight. Same girl. I'll try and keep this as short as I can, but well, if you've been here, well you should already know better 😉

The first photo was taken during one of the last kitchens about a month before my life changed forever. A month before the betrayal, before I closed my business, I had to start packing our things to move a state away from our home and our friends, and start over.

What I knew, but didn't fully realize, is that I was already broken in so many ways. That was just the final straw.

So then came the rebuild... the unpacking, literally and figuratively. What stays? Where does it go? More importantly, what goes? I don't want everything from before to stay; it can't... THIS life needs to be better.

I found my footing; it was starting to be ok. I was sleeping, eating, laughing; I had a part-time job. I got a full-time job... ok, I can do this... It's going to be ok...

Then Cancer said ... Not yet. Fuck! Are you kidding me? Ok... the only way out is through, so let's get it done. I put my head down and literally worked 10-hour days every day except the 5 days I took off for surgery and got through my cancer. Not because I am a hero, but because I had to; there was no other choice. So we rest when we can and keep going. I had a life worth living for. I won!

It's been a year since then, with ups and downs. The boys and I moved into a house; my oldest went to college; my youngest is taller than me now and is quite proud of that, but it's been a mostly peaceful life.

Heather, this is a sad story. Why are you telling it? Because it's not sad at all. Look at that girl on the right; that's me last week!

Sometimes the toxic emotions that we carry with us are just as visible and harmful as the physical weight of the food we put in our bodies. I shed sadness, hurt, anxiety, and a million more emotions that I don't know how to name or won't put here.

I have two points to this very typical long post...
1. If you're walking through a fire 🔥, keep going; the only way out is through. I promise you'll get there.
2. If you don't think being around negative, toxic people or situations affects you, look at my before and after. Protect your peace ✌️