NEW BLOG

thank you so much for all those who have faithfully read this blog over the past 5+ years! it's crazy to think i've been blogging for this long! 

however, with changes in my life and getting older, i've moved to a new blog! i'll start posting later this week! head on over to myhalfwaythere.blogspot.com to connect with me!

i hope to see you all there! 

xoxo,

Beka

change

i apologize for my long absence. there have been so many changes and just stuff happening in the last two months that i haven't felt up to writing about it. i've been through some intensely personal struggles and i don't want to write about it on the web yet. someday, perhaps, i will, because maybe my experience will serve to bless or help another person. 

i'm moving on with my life. i always intended this blog to last me through my college years and it has extended past that to accommodate my mission. that being said, i anticipate the start of a completely new blog, to encompass my adult life. thank you for your patience as i transition into a new life and into a new blog. i'll be unveiling the new blog as soon as i can!

"books are a uniquely portable magic"

it's weird not to be in school. let me tell you. for the past 18 years of my life, minus the 18 months on a mission, i've been in school! and learning new things every day. now suddenly, i'm a university graduate, with a job and it's weird not to go learn something new every day. don't get me wrong, i love my job, but i also miss learning. so i wanted to make a goal for 2015 that would help me to continue to learn, and since i love reading, i've set a goal to read one new book (at least) each month. i've only read one of these books all the way through before and so i am hoping to expand my knowledge and rediscover reading. you'll notice that these aren't really leisure books, or "easy" reading. i want to keep myself accountable so i'm going to list the books below and then I'll report on each one (kind of like school haha).

February-- The Anatomy of Peace (The Arbinger Institute)

March-- Intuitive Eating (Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch)

April-- The Infinite Atonement (Tad R. Callister)

May-- The Four Agreements (Don Miguel Ruiz)

June-- My Story (Elizabeth Smart)

July-- Yes Please (Amy Poehler)

August-- Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)

September-- Left Neglected (Lisa Genova)

October-- The Miracle of Forgiveness (Spencer W. Kimball)

November-- Critical Care (Theresa Brown)

December-- A Chrismas Carol (Charles Dickens)

i'm a little bit excited and a little nervous to read all these! but i hope that i can learn a lot and maybe inspire a few of you to read too!

Let's start a Revolution

It's almost the end of January, and I know 99% of you made some sort of "be more healthy" goal for 2015. and for many people this goal includes dieting, exercise, and pinning excessive amounts of thinspiration pins on Pinterest. we're going to cut out all processed sugar, or get to the gym every day until we have that perfect six pack that we see on those Pinterest models. or we're going to join some marketed "health" product to lose weight (which of course involves losing money because you have to pay a fee to get their special products in order to lose that weight).

and the list goes on.

but when did living a "healthy lifestyle" equate dieting? or when did the "perfect" size become 10 pounds lighter than you already are? why is it that we are never satisfied with our bodies?

for over a century women have been changing their bodies to fit what society says is perfect. from corsets for tiny waists, to binding feet, to wrapping our chests to looks like we have no chest, to making our hair enourmously huge, we as women have let the world tell us what beauty is. specifically media has been telling us that we are not enough- that our bodies are not enough. but who are they to tell us?

in media our bodies are shown as parts. a pair of legs; some plumb lips; perfect abs; the silkiest, thickest hair.

newsflash: we are MORE.

why is it that we are constantly allowing ourselves to be objectified? and why are we objectifying others? "I'll be happy once I lose this muffin top." ""I need to tone up my arms." "I want to get a six pack." "I need to get the perfect swimsuit body before summer." and the list goes on.

I may be wrong, but if we are constantly belittling and judging ourselves and others, how are we ever supposed to do anything, let alone change the world??? We have got to stop it! but how?

my friends at Beauty Redefined are heading a revolutionary campaign to not only take back beauty, but to redefine beauty. my thoughts today have been based off my own indignation against dieting and thinspo, as well as an inspirational presentation done by these powerful women in my singles ward.

because I am a Latter-Day Saint, and I believe strongly that Heavenly Father gave us our bodies as a precious gift, may i share with you a quote from one of my favorite men? President Uchtdorf said, "When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it!" Girls, this includes hating, ignoring, ridiculing or wanting to cause harm to our own bodies. 

so let's stop. let's rethink. let's be more- more than our bodies, more than the lies that media tells us, more than what we've trained our brains to think is perfect. 

[i will be doing a series of posts on the subject of body image, media and how it affect body image, dieting, and redefining beauty. i hope you join me, add your thoughts and comments, and check out beautyredefined.net]

I'm Home from Beautiful British Columbia!

I really don't know how to start this post. Or even how to title it. I am home from my amazing mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I served in communities all over British Columbia for the last 18 months of my life, helping people come closer to Jesus Christ. I wish I could take you all in my pocket so you could see and experience what I saw and experienced. There are not enough words to tell you in a brief moment everything that happened in the last 18 months. But I can tell you that it was amazing- the best choice I have made and I am SO grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to represent His son as a full time missionary! 

So what's next? I have yet to figure hay out completely. Coming home from a completely consecrated life is difficult. I am living at home and looking forward with faith to the next phase of life!!

arrived in Vancouver

Well folks, Sister Arnesen made it to her mission in Vancouver. She got there on July 10 and we got this picture and some information from the mission the next day. She's doing well and we're excited to hear from her first email soon! Her preparation day is on Monday so if you're writing her emails Sunday might be a good day to write.

Sister Arnesen with the President and Sister Tilleman

Stay tuned for more pictures soon . . .

into the MTC

We dropped Beka off at the MTC in Provo, Utah on Wednesday to start her 18 month mission. It was hard to see her go but she's excited about starting on the work. This is her big brother, Adam, and I hope that I can do her blog justice for the next 18 months. Here are a few pictures from the drop off.

With mom and dad at the temple before dropping off.

favorite next brother in line (Spencer)

favorite big biological sister

Beka would love some letters! Write her here:

Sister Rebekah Arnesen 

JUL10 CAN-VAN

2011 N 900 E Unit 216

Provo UT 84602

God speed Beka. We love you!

god be with you...

this will be my last post for 18 months. pretty cray right? my brother, Adam, will be updating the blog every six weeks or so with pictures and excerpts from my letters. feel free to follow along as i serve the Lord in Vancouver! addresses that you can write me at will be posted on "the girl" page.

as many of you know the decision to serve a mission was not an easy one. i am still scared beyond all reason as i begin this new journey. i feel so inadequate and that i will be the one doing most of the learning and growing. i'm scared for the future after my mission, but i know that the Lord will bless me because i am doing His will. i don't know much about teaching the Gospel to people who have never heard it. but i know how to love people. and i know i want to do what God wants me to do. i am scared, yes, but i'm doing it anyway. i know that i can do all things through Christ! i only hope that i will be able to touch even just one life in the next 18 months. 

until we meet again!

xoxo

confessions of a college graduate

//you move home. because after all the times you said you would never ever ever live at home again, it's really cheaper to live at home.

//you find that you left all your friends in Provo. so on your nights off you are bored, literally, to tears.

//so, you try not to have nights off. you become a workaholic. and when your patients ask you why you work so much, you tell them it's because you like money and because you have no social life.

//you thought you'd know more what was going in life after 5 years at a higher institution of learning. wrong. you are as confused by life as you ever were.

//your to-do list goes from "study pathophysiology" to "paint nails"

//you thought you'd have lots more money because you are living at home, but no, you're saving for your mission, so you are practically penniless.

//the gym is the only thing that is keeping you from going insane. and jam sessions with Skrillex.

//you go out to lunch- by yourself. and bring a book to read. because you don't want to seem lame for going to lunch by yourself.

//when your computer breaks and you don't have money to fix it, you feel like you are 14 years old, using your parents desktop. at least you know the password to get on the internet haha.

//you stay up late and sleep in.

//you wish you spent more time at the pool.

//that's pretty much it folks. welcome to the real world.

what not to do in your wedding announcement

ok people, it's that time of year, wedding season. something that every wedding crazed girl looks forward to. and something that those of us with small pocketbooks dread. wedding invites crowd up the refrigerator and we find ourselves getting the same present for everyone on the list, because it's just easier that way. and, although i am unmarried, i believe i am a self-proclaimed wedding planner and critic. i've seen my fair share of weddings, and in particular wedding announcements.
here's what NOT to do in your wedding announcement.
*awkward poses. we've all seen the "awkward engagement photos" online, but people, these things really exist! there are certain poses that perhaps you should not be putting out there for the world to see. this includes hand placement and how your clothes look in the pose. below, is just a tame example of awkward posing. what were they thinking? "oh honey this will look so good. i mean we're gonna walk around like this all the time after we're married right? i don't want you out of my sight! and if you try to leave me, well then you will be strangled. . . "

*personality. ok ok, don't get me wrong, you should incorporate personality into your engagement photos and wedding announcements! this sets you apart from other people. however you can take this too far. don't dress up in crazy outfits- keep it simple. don't include animals, especially dogs or cats, in your photos (i think the occasional horse can be cute if you are going for the country feel)- you are not marrying your dog! location is huge. avoid posing in water- that's awkward. avoid strange locations, like porta-potties, college campuses (yes i have seen people taking engagement photos on BYU campus and i think it's weird), etc.

a good way to add personality

* keep the clothes on! i don't need to say anything else on that i hope. . .
* kissing. let me clarify, kissing is all good and fine. i mean we want to know you are in love, and not just signing a business contract. buuuuut, (and this was told to me by a good friend who is actually married),  you don't want to kiss too much. her words "just give him a peck in the photos because other wise it looks like you are just macking on each other." not classy. also keep the kisses cute- lips, cheeks and foreheads. everywhere else should be off limits! we don't want dear 80 year old auntie marge keeling over out of shock and a sweet kiddo like you would kiss like that.

this is cute

*colors. i do love me a good pop of color on the invite/save the date. but too much color, that doesn't match up, is just too much. choose a font that people can read without going cross eyed, in a color that isn't going to blind people. it's ok to do a couple different colors on the save the date, but make sure that there is an underlying theme and that it makes sense. don't do a new neon color on each line. that is just awkward to look at and hard to read. if you are going to do colored lettering, then keep the background color something neutral- creme, black, grey, or white.

well i've had my rant. i hope you laughed a little, but you also took this seriously. thank you to the people whose wedding invites inspired this post and for the friends who had beautiful and classy engagements. you have given me hope that not everyone is terribly awkward.
now go. be in love. get married. and all that jazz.

reasons my mom is awesome

she makes food i like, or she tells me to cook because she likes what i make better.

she says she will come save me if the power goes out while i am in the shower.

she keeps me in line, telling me, "rebekah, we do not say 'Shut Up' to our boyfriends!"

she makes the best carrot cake in utah. and trust me, i've tried a lot of carrot cake. none can compare to my moms.

she lets me be different from my family. she doesn't expect me to be like everyone else.

she taught me to love reading.

she trusts me to make my own decisions, and supports me in those decisions.

she puts up with my Scottish temper.

yeah, she is pretty amazing.
Happy Mother's Day Mom!

april. . . according to instagram and other things

i decided to get the flu general conference weekend. spent two days with a fever above 100.

celebrated Passover with family and friends

wished for it to stop snowing.

went to the dr. about stomach pains. got an ultrasound. not prego. no gall stones. diagnosed with gerd. gotta cut back on the ice cream :(

made pazookies.

skyped a lot.

worked 40 hours during finals week.

welcomed home my sister from her mission.

went to Pizza Pie Cafe with Hyrum. and ate lotsa pizza.

stopped blogging. woops.

bought a plane ticket to vegas.

cheered BYU men's volleyball onto a MPSF victory.

jenny moved to salt lake :(

signed up for my last half marathon until after the mish. (and i'm totes not ready for it.)

graduated from BYU!

yeah so that was april. now it's may and ya'll are probably wondering where in the heazy i went. but never fear. i've moved back home (oh the joy) before my mission. and i have a goal to blog at least once a week. also, let's play before i leave to Vancouver for 18 months. saavy?

why i take naps

if you know me, you know that i love taking naps. there was a time this semester where i was taking two naps per day. so i was basically on a toddler's schedule. what's wrong with that?

people who know me well, know that there is a time almost every day, where i turn my phone in silent, and nothing can wake me from my nice little nap. whether it be 30 minutes or two hours. naptime is important.

why didn't we take advantage of this while we were kids?

apparently there is a National Napping Day! on March 14. wish i'd known so i could have celebrated. probably one of the only holidays where you party by sleeping. i will definitely be observing this holiday in the future.

did you know that cultures which have siesta hours have lower rates of coronary heart disease?? a study shows that napping 3 times a week, decreased the risk of coronary heart disease by 37%! boom!

famous people who napped: Winston Churchill, Bill Clinton, Johann Brahms, Einstein, Margaret Thatcher and Napolean.

so you see why i nap?

it's completely logical.

it's not that i'm just lazy, and i'd rather get under my comforter for some snuggle time.

nope i'm purposely napping.

so i can be a genius and live forever. obvi.

napping is pretty great. 

just sayin.

so go take a nap today.

you deserve it!

oh haiiiii

i'm back! not that i was actually gone anywhere, besides doing cool stuff, obvi. but i haven't blogged in forevs. and since i promised someone that i would blog today, i'm doing it. first off, i think we should all recognize that it's April. March just flew by! and it's got 31 days. cray. i'm already loving April because. . . 

i'm blogging outside on my balcony, in short sleeves. this is epic.

also. . .

i graduate- from college, not high school- in 22 days!

my sister comes home from her mish in two weeks from this very day.

the sun shines in my bedroom window making napping so much more pleasant.

it's general conference this weekend. supes excited to hear the prophet speak!

and elder holland, of course.

and, the trees are starting to get little green leaves. 

spring really is here!!!!

i need to quickly report on how my March goals went-- look for April goals coming up this weekend!

accomplished: 

finish The Holy Temple book

finish 2 Nephi and Jacob (I actually got through Words of Mormon)

Get a B on chemistry test (83% baby! i'll take it!)

learn a belt song (in process)

met two knew people in the ward (thank you sushi sluts club)

save $100-$200 (actually saved $400. boom baby)

yes. i would say March was good to me. 

so i finished the Harry Potter series again. guys, i can't help it. i love it. 

also, this is my life. just sayin.

so that's my life. i promise that i won't be so long lax in posting. because i know you all check everyday to see if i've written something, and you are dying to know what the heazy is going on in my life. it's like a freaking novel.  or like an action comic book. i'm basically a super hero. like spiderman. i'm spiderman.

speaking of spiders, remember that one time i held a freaking tarantula?

i love to see the temple

i love to see the temple
i went inside yesterday
i felt the Holy Spirit
i listened and i prayed
for the temple is a house of God,
a place of love and beauty.
i prepared myself while i was young,
this is my sacred duty.

i love to see the temple,
i went inside yesterday.
i covenanted with my Father,
i promised to obey.
for the temple is a holy place
where we are sealed together.
as a child of God, i've learned this truth,
a family is forever.

i went through the temple yesterday.
it is a beautiful place.
it is full of love and peace.
i can't wait to go back and learn even more.
and i look forward to the day when i will be sealed there to my husband.

i am so grateful for my parents and grandparents who taught me to look forward to going to the temple and who prepared me for this great day. i'm especially grateful for my grandfather who taught my the importance of each grandchild getting to the temple.
i am so grateful for my younger brothers who are an example to me and were able to be there last night.
i am grateful for my sister and cousin whose spirits i felt even though they are serving missions and were unable to be there in person.
i am grateful for the sister-friends whose examples, friendship and love have helped me reach this point in my life. they truly are part of my family.

i am grateful for temples and for the love i feel there. i am thankful i can go back often and learn even more. i am grateful for a place where i can come and feel close to the Lord. 

the bums

yeah yeah it's been almost a week since my last post, and i know you've all been waiting with baited breath to see how i am doing and what i decided about the race. i know you just live to read my blog and hear about my life, because it's so stinking exciting. so, sorry for my absence.

about el marathono (that's spanish for marathon didn't you know?) i've decided not to do a full. every training program i found was between 16-20 weeks and since i haven't been running consistently i didn't feel like i'd be adequately ready in 12 weeks. a lot of people seem to think i'm like this pro runner, well news flash, i'm not. if i was then i'd be sponsored by nike and only wear nike clothes and be totally legit. and i'd probably be black (not racist, just all the best runners seem to be black). so i'm doing a half marathon, maybe two, before i leave for the mish.

sometimes how i feel when i watch Biggest Loser

in reference to the title of this post, no this isn't a post about bums. although that could be quite entertaining. get your mind outta the gutter! ok. moving on. see i done got sick. it all started after sushi last thursday. a titch of the sore throat. i didn't think much of it. but by the time i got home from work friday i knew i was coming down with something nast. but did that stop me from staying up until 2 am? nope. it was totes worth it too by the way. anyways i've been sick. and that my friends, is the bums. i literally do nothing but sleep, study, go to work, and um yes, sleep.
last night the nurse at work gave me some tylenol pm and, friends, if i was gonna go be a druggie i think that would be my drug of choice. is this legal stuff to write? stuff knocked me right out and i slept until 9 am. beautiful beautiful. i did kinda have a tylenol pm hangover. i went to buy some so i didn't have to keep getting the nurse at work to give it to me (because that just sounds too much like a drug dealer right?) but they don't sell the stuff at Smith's. what the bum? i was pretty upset. now please don't go thinking i'm gonna be all addicted to over the counter drugs (although i did have to show my id when i bought my knock-off nyquil), i just found my experience with tylenol pm worth noting.

and this is what i'm like when i'm sick. if you thought i took a lot of naps before i was sick, well now i don't even set my alarm to wake up from my nap! heck, i gotta get better! i've got tests to take, friends to hang out with, and adventures to have!  and of course my body chooses the warmest week of the year thus far to get sick. it's perfect running weather and i'm in here chugging water and sniffling away. boo.

now just because i'm sure you are fascinated by my storied of phlegm and cold medications, i'm going throw this picture down because i desperately need to watch Harry Potter again, i want to go thrift shopping every time i hear this song, and because i died laughing when i saw this.

be nice. remember this was written by a sick girl :)

marathon thoughts

i know i said that i'm running a full marathon before i leave on the mish, but now i'm having mega second thoughts.
- there are 12 weeks until the UV marathon (june 8) and all the training plans i've looked at are at least 16 weeks long. i don't want to be under prepared. if i'm gonna run a marathon i want to run it right, that means training well.
- i'm scared. there i said it. i'm scared that i won't do well. my few runs i've been on in the warmer weather haven't been amazing. and i'm scared that i will hate the entire race. my friend who ran a marathon two years ago said it was the worst thing ever. i'm comfortable with half marathons.
- i'm lazy. let's be real. lots of days i'd rather take a nap than go running. i live a reeeeal exciting life.

- i don't have lots of time. as i work more i won't have time to put in the hours for a long run. because i'm not the fastest runner, when i get to the really long runs i will need 2-4 hours. of course it will be warmer so i could get up early in the am and go running (but why would i do that when i love sleep so much?) and since i work most saturday afternoons and evenings i won't have time to do the long runs then either.

maybe i'm just rationalizing away reasons for doing a full marathon. i could always do a full marathon when i get home from my mission. it would be a good goal to do once i get back.
or maybe i just need some mega motivation. like a runny buddy. new running shoes. a promise of a road trip. or ryan goslig + puppy. just sayin.....

anyways i could use some advice, motivation, etc. to help me decide what to do. i have to sign up for the marathon by march 10 if i'm going to do it. help a girl out will ya?

peace and blessings.

a mission

if you are my friend on facebook, you may have seen some pretty big news last week. i apologize that it's taken me so long to announce it on the blog, but i didn't want to interrupt my series posts last week about eating disorders. so here it is:

i have been called to serve as a full-time missionary of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints in the. . .


Canada Vancouver Mission!!!!

i report to the provo mtc on june 26, 2013

i've had a lot of questions since people found out i got a mission call (because i didn't tell very many people before it actually came). i want to answer just a few so that you know a bit more about my decision to serve a mission.

"oh, were you affected my the age change?. . .  i guess not." no i'm not 19 or 20. i'm 23. so i wasn't affected my the age change. but i've been hearing of quite a few girls my age and older who are getting calls. i believe that the age change not only allowed younger girls to go, but also re instilled the missionary spirit in girls all over the church. and that is why older and younger sisters are going on missions now.

"why are you going now, instead of having gone at 21?" when i was 21 i was going to uganda, and that was my "mission" at the time. after i got home from uganda i prayed for about a semester, trying to decide if it was right for me to go on a mission. i got the answer that i could decide. so i decided not to go. life went on. last semester i really wanted to go through the temple. but my bishop told me that our stake president wouldn't let sisters go through until they were 25 unless they were getting married or going on a mission. i was super disappointed because i felt like i had received a prompting to prepare to go through the temple. around this time my mom and my sister kept asking me if i was thinking of serving a mission. my answer was emphatically, "no!" i had a wonderful job that i planned to keep after graduation, plans for post-graduation, a ward that i loved and wanted to stay in, and looked forward to just having a break from school for a bit and taking advantage of the "good life." during christmas break i recommitted to improving my spirituality and my testimony. the first week of school i went to institute with my friend Bre (who recently returned from her mission to Thailand). as we sat there, talking about the Book of Mormon, a voice came into my head, as clear as anything, and said, "you should go on a mission." it was one of the most direct promptings i had ever gotten and i knew i could not rationalize my way out of it without consequences. not only had that voice come to my head, but in my heart i knew that it was right. i was freaking out. i didn't want to go. but i started my papers. and that's where the journey began.

"are you excited?" yes!!!! i mentioned that i didn't want to go. but that changed. through prayer, fasting and pleading for the lord to let me be ok with this being His will, i became willing to go. i was really worried, though, that when i got my call it would be to somewhere i didn't want to go or i just wouldn't be excited about it. throughout the month and a half that i worked on my papers and waited for my call to come, i prayed that i would be excited to go where the Lord wanted me and that i would know that it was inspired. i can't describe exactly how i know that Vancouver is right, but i know that it is perfect. the second i saw Canada Vancouver on that piece of paper, i just knew i was going to be so happy there! i knew that there were things in my life that prepared me to go there and that it was going to be perfect for me. even in research about vancouver, i am amazed at how much i love it already. i feel like i will never want to come home! i am also freaking nervous. i don't know how i can be an amazing missionary. i am scared to death of bearing my testimony and i feel like i am very "weak in words." i am going to be relying on the Lord a lot!

i am so very grateful for the friends and family who have supported me through this decision! especially my mom, brother and bre who let me cry to them when i felt like i couldn't go on a mission. i'm thankful for the missionary examples i have who have taught me the importance of sharing the gospel- especially my grandparents who have served two full time missions as a couple. i am thankful for the friends who had more faith that i, and who knew that i would be an amazing missionary even when i doubt myself. 

"i can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

phil. 4:13

march: goals

it's time to report on my goals for february and make goals for march. i can't believe it's finally starting to warm up! i'm super excited!
sign up for a half marathon: not completed. i've decided to do a FULL marathon and i'll be signing up this month!
go to aerobics classes 2x a week: i feel like i did pretty good at this.
save $100: check.
celebrate birthday month: birthday month was a wild success! boom! 
read from The Infinite Atonement/ The Holy Temple each Sunday: i think there was one Sunday where i didn't read out of one of the books, but i did do pretty good.
go to temple three times: done.
go to ward activites: i even got work off so that i could go to the activity that my council planned! i've definitely been more social in my ward this last month.
serve someone daily: i didn't keep record of this, but i did pray for opportunities to serve. mostly i served my roommates (doing their dishes etc.) but i could have had a better attitude about it.

i've got some pretty great goals for march. i also have a lot of fun plans for this month! i just hope it keeps being warm and everything. i am ready for spring!

do you have any goals for March?

why i don't believe in scales

at the conclusion of national eating disorder awareness week, i want to share some of my personal experiences. none of this is scientifically proven, it is based off my own experiences and insights. 

this is why i don't believe in scales, or in weighing myself. 

there was a time when i weighed myself twice a day. once in the morning and once at night. i wasn't obsessed about my weight, but i didn't want to gain.  i wanted to stay at 100 pounds. luckily, my obsession about weight never turned into anything more. i don't know how or when i realized it, but one day i woke up and realized that i hadn't weighed myself in a while. i didn't know how much i weighed! and i really didn't care. as i've gotten older i have weighed myself less and less. i don't own a scale and i honestly worry that if i did that i would become an "obsessive weigh-er" again. as i see girls weigh themselves i see myself in them, and i worry. when did we place so much value on a number that really is quite meaningless? especially when we, for the most part are at a healthy weight and shouldn't worry about it?

in high school i was always a size 1 jean size. i liked the fact that i was the smallest size in the store. it was awesome. somewhere in the two years after i graduated high school, i filled out. it's not that i got fat, because i'm not fat. but my body changed, and suddenly i wasn't a size 1 anymore. i avoided buying pants because i thought i was going to be huge. i didn't know what size i was anymore and was scared of being bigger than a size 1. finally one day i got some pants that actually fit, and surprise! they weren't huge, they made me feel good. and i've learned something valuable. it doesn't really matter what size of pant you wear. or what dress size you are. or your bra size. what matters, is that you embrace your body, no matter the perceived imperfections. 

the truth is, we are never going to be as perfect as the media portrays women to be. [newsflash: that's 95% photo shop. just sayin.] we are beautiful daughters of God! we are worth SO much more than that little number on the scale. or the number on the tag of our clothes. no, this isn't a call for everyone to go out and only never eat healthy or exercise again. this isn't saying we should not take care of our bodies. because we should. but remember that it's ok to be a size 4. and it's ok to weigh more than you did in high school. it's ok to have a piece of pizza for dinner and not feel guilty about it. and it's ok if you miss a day of exercising because you were too busy studying or you had a friend who needed your help. there are things that are more important than being the smallest person. 

"Let’s (quite literally) have our cake and eat it, too. Let’s savor the cake and the kale. Let’s get more exercise by dancing more with friends. Let’s love our bodies because they’re ours, because they’re a gift, and not have our self approval depend on how well they meet some totally arbitrary societal standard."

let's take the challenge. 

be the cake eaters. the dancers. the scale smashers. the lovers.

will you join me?