In a world where everyone seems to be running races and training for marathons… I enjoy my leisurely walks.
In a world where everyone seems to be Crossfitting and Paleo-ing… I have yet to figure out what WOD means, and I’ll never give up my dairy and grains thank.you.very.much.
In a world where everyone harps about eating 100% clean… I rather enjoy being dirty every now and again.
In a world that suggests I try to live off 1200-1500 calories a day… I say to hell with that; pass the cookies.
In a world that tells me to act my age… I’d much rather nurture my inner child.
In a world that tries to convince me to be unhappy with myself… dare I say I kind of like who I am?
In a world that tries to tell me who to be… I’d rather just be marvelously me.
. – . – . – .
There’s a never-ending amount of pressure out there to act, think, and look a certain way. Oh, you must exercise every day; you must believe that sugar is bad; you must be fit and toned – if not, you [apparently] fail at life. We spend so much time trying to become some idealized version of who we think we’re supposed to be, that we eventually lose sight of why it is that we do what we do and believe what we believe in the first place…
Example. I’m not a runner. I’m just not. Don’t try and tell me that anyone can be a runner, because I’ll have to disagree. After repeated attempts at trying to see what all the fuss was about, I’ve just accepted the fact that the only way I’ll run is if rabid bears or ice cream trucks are involved. It hurts, I don’t get the high, it’s just not for me. Nevertheless, I [repeatedly] tried to force myself to like it anyways. Why? Because everyone else was doing it. Duh.
Don’t get me wrong. Inspiration is great, but not when we lose sight of who we are and try to force ourselves to become someone that we’re not; and definitely not when that so-called inspiration leads to comparison and guilt. There are runners and Crossfitters. There are clean eaters and people who really like math. Good for them – all of those things are fabulous if they’re done with passion, but that’s just not where mine lies… at least not right now.
One of the beautiful things about life is that it’s fluid, it’s constantly changing. The way we are at any given moment isn’t necessarily the way we’re going to be in a future one. Values change. Priorities change. Tastes change. It’s what keeps life interesting. I’ve gone the hardcore fitness route, I’ve done the whole 100% clean-eating thing, but I’ve realized that the way I am right now is exactly the way I need to be. Will that always be the case? No, probably not – life may very well make a runner out of me yet – but until that day comes (if it ever does), I’ll embrace where I am and eagerly look forward to what comes next.
. – . – . – .
I actually just confessed this to myself. There are times of the year or places where I absolutely crave a run – but through the rain? Basking in the glory of snot frozen on my gloves? Honestly, nope. Our bodies were meant to move, yes, but there’s more ways than one to do that 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Preach it sista! Paleo and low-carb diets are simply NOT healthy for your body and I’m so glad to see some people realizing that. We were not designed to run our bodies ragged on a treadmill either. Thanks for this post!
this is amazing. PERIOD .
This is such a well written and awesome post!! I feel exactly the same way. Everyone is different and everyone should feel proud of who they are and not try to be something they’re not…..easier said than done. I struggle with it daily. It’s nice to know I’m not alone. 😉
Amen sistah! I never thought in a MILLION years that I would become a runner. Then, once it got bitten by the running bug, I thought I’d never give it up, but like you said…people change. I still have that love for running, I just don’t have that motivation to do it like I used to. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll pick it up again, but for now, I’m perfectly content with my no-more-than-three-mile jaunts and throwing around some heavy weights with all the boys! I really do need to give more credit to walks though. A lot of times I just have a hard time seeing it as exercise, but it IS exercise…both for the body AND the mind. I only had the time/motivation for a walk on the treadmill at the gym yesterday and I have to say, it was nice to just stroll along…while texting the man friend/getting caught up on Instagram! 😉 It’s easy to get caught up in the comparison trap in this community without even realizing it. Thanks for the reminder! xoxo
What a beautifully written post. Can we be friends? But seriously…
This has permanently slapped a smile on my face and I’ll be holding my head a bit higher. I cannot grasp Paleo and all the rage nor will I ever be a crossfitter and there is absolutely no way this girl is giving up some grains.
You are awesome 🙂
Love this post<3
So I kind of really want to be your real-life friend right now. I am only a walker too…but I just made biggest mistake of my life and moved to a town of bad memories and gossipers and run-down houses and a judgmental family and the walks…I’m in tears….no sidewalks, just short stumbling along for a walk each day on a road I can’t stand to be on. …Afraid to eat “certain” things in fear it will either lead me to binge (again) or because I don’t deserve since I am now EXTREMELY inactive. I’m lost and scared. You’re beautiful. My skin and pallor are all crappy, but I think that is due to my digestion and internal toxicity issues (no good bacteria, etc) and my parents think its all about sitting 24-7, nothing else and eating whatever they do (“country ribbon” chicken, slimy pieces of bologna, buns made with shortening and palm oil, etc etc etc…really bizarre food…not lovely food like yours above…i can’t find liberte yogurt 🙁 major sad. I cna’t find anything here (one grocery store, nothing). The only two positive food choices have been finding Tribe Hummus which is crazy that they’d have that here and nothing else….and wild moose…a friend of parents caught a moose, so we get wild moose which to me is 10x better than the crap factory stuff that i’m otherwise forced to succumb to…oh my.
What kind of turkey deli meat do you buy? Can you provide the link? What you think of these maple leaf prime “natural selections”…me nerves, my anxiety is 10 fold and I am trapped. I made a big mistake coming home and I’m “stuck”…I cry when no one looking and try to act to them because family are getting older and they are well intentioned…but its so hard, cause they don’t see ME and realize ME and the hurt ….they just think its all no exercising and eat.
I’m sorry Amanda. I was about to get off computer and go journal and figured I’d check one more blog and it seems I’ve mixed your blog with my journal 🙁 Sorry.
sorry to like stalk your comment but I’d love to talk if you want [email protected] and my blog is runservecook.wordpress.com!
Fabulous!!!
I’m no preacher but AMEN sista!
Hey Sweetie, I know you already have a million people commenting and telling you how amazing this post is, but WOW, what an incredible message today! Thank you for being yourself, for being honest, and for inspiring us all. This was EXACTLY what I needed to hear today and I am SO thankful I have come across your blog, I always look forward to your posts and your insight into living life to the fullest. Thank you thank you thank, from the bottom of my heart for every word written in this blog, you are amazing!
Awwwr. You totally just put an embarrassingly goofy smile on my face right in the middle of Starbucks. Thanks, Ashley 😀
Amen! I don’t do paleo, low calorie diets, marathons, etc. I would rather live life. There was a time when I also suffered with a horrible illness and I was alone for way too much of that. I want to enjoy things! Such an inspiring post! As per usual:) I think everyone should do there own thing and not fall into trends because other people are. We all are different, so we all need different things to match our lifestyles! xox
Oh yeah I totally agree. If we were all the same how boring would that be?? As long as a person is happy and healthy living their life they shouldn’t care how they’re neighbour is living. Blogging is a minefield for comparisons but as long as you stay true to what you enjoy and love then it’s just great to see what works for others!
I. freaking. love. this. post.
You rock, Amanda!!
And I have to say, I laughed that the comic says “Liz” 😀
Your amazing. That’s it. Nothing else to it 🙂
Like you, I’m pretty much saying “screw you” to what everyone else tells me what I should be doing/eating/working out. You know I love my workouts, but I HATE running, and Im jsut NOT going to force myself to do it so I can “fit” in.
And cookies? Hell yes. ALWAYS pass the cookies!
I am one of these people you speak of, I was just thinking to myself this morning that I look horriblw because I haven’t had the time to get to the gym so much. But you’re right about media image. Thanks for this, you made my day so much better.
This post makes me so happy and relieves so much inner anxiety. You are someone that I look up to eating health wise. My goal is to be in a similar mental state when it comes to exercise and food, you’re just so calm and HAPPY! Love this, love this, love this.
That’s an awesome goal 🙂 And you’ll definitely get there! It’s something that comes with time, I’ve found. And sheer frustration is pretty useful too 😉
Great post Amanda, I couldn’t agree more 🙂 Why are people always trying to be someone else? You have to do what you want to do, and what works for you. I know myself enough to know that I will never, ever, want to run a marathon. Ever. Does that make me a bad person? Not determined enough? Not committed enough? Nope! It just means I don’t enjoy running a huge amount of miles. It’s just not me. I love watching others do it, and think they’re totally kick-ass and inspiring, but not everyone can be the same. And thank God for that!
Love this post! Despite my blog being called the “clean eating” veggie girl, I could never fully eat an entirely “clean” diet for the rest of my life. Would I love to be able to? Sure. But would I fully enjoy myself and my eating habits? Likely not. Plus, who even really knows what constitutes a “clean” diet? I believe everything is all in moderation. I try to eat “clean” (or my version of it) about 80-85% of the time, but always leave room to splurge when I go out to eat or just NEED some ice cream! You only live once, right? 😉
What a beautiful and inspirational post, Amanda! Thank you for the reminder this morning. Reading your blog posts always make me feel warm and fuzzy inside, haha.
P.S. You are gorgeous, both inside and out 🙂
I am in love with this post. I think I might have to come back and read this one again and again. I admit I am one of those crossfitters but only because I love it. I started before a lot of people even knew what it was and to be honest I think I preferred it that way! I hate putting any kind of label on myself or my eating because it is constantly changing and I am constantly evolving to figure out what’s right for me. I dabble in Paleo sometimes but I also ate a gluten free bagel with justin’s almond butter for breakfast yesterday and was in heaven. Grains all the way 😉 I love that you are okay with just being you. I’m trying to learn to accept myself and think I am slowly getting better each and every day!
Possibly my favorite post of yours ever!!!!! And so needed right now! Thank you.