If you desire to be more than your body and let go of the self-described belief that you can’t be who you are unless you have a certain weight, it’s crucial that you stretch yourself, wander out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself with activities that not only stretch your mind, but also your imagination, your beliefs about the world and even your body’s capabilities.
Here are just a few things I did this year – to inspire you and show you that no matter where you are on your journey to being boldly magnificent, you can create memories for a lifetime.
1. I took my second surf lesson.
Well, it was my 5th lesson after our week in the Dominican Republic last year. This time though, we upgraded the challenge to the icy Pacific Ocean in San Diego. It was cooooold, it was humbling (those waves!) and it was fantastic.
I don’t think I stood on the surfboard more than twice as I couldn’t feel my feet after pretty much 2 minutes in the water (Yeah right, those wetsuits reaaaally make you feel all warm and cozy… As if…🤦♀️). And yet, I would do it again in a heartbeat. 🏄🏽♀️
2. I discovered lucid dreaming.
… and am fascinated with the topic and the many opportunities it creates in regards to integrating trauma and healing your mind from the inside out.
I haven’t succeeded at it yet, but I am committed to a daily practice of writing in my dream journal, getting more aware of finding patterns in my dreams, testing reality throughout the day and keeping my mind open to the fact that it only takes one tiny moment for me to wake up in my dream, knowing that I am dreaming and allowing my dream plan to unfold. 🤩😴
3. I began studying astral projection.
So maybe at this point, you think that NOW she’s gone totally nuts, well, you might be right. 😅 But oh my, is this a fascinating concept. I participated in a workshop with a world-class teacher and just cannot stop contemplating the limitless possibilities of experiencing consciousness beyond my body.
4. I have finally committed to a dream I’ve had for at least 20 years.
I signed up for – and finished – the NYC Marathon. Read all about it here.
Having this goal in mind has challenged me in more ways than I can count and it’s taught me more about self-care, my self-image and body respect than anything else for quite some time.
5. I said YES
… when I was asked to go on a trip to Necker Island – with a mastermind of women that I was not part of – getting waaaay outside of my comfort zone in all this luxury and abundance. But hey, who would ever say no to meeting Richard Branson? The process I went through while we were on the island? Massively painful and transforming. I still haven’t integrated the many shifts in my body but I promise that I will share it all once I can put it into words.
6. I tried eFoiling
First, I thought that eFoiling was some kind of wellness treatment… Well, it kinda was, BUT in a different way. I haven’t gotten this much water up my brain in forever. And I will do it again as soon as I can.
Watch me try to get the board flying above water… You cannot see it but I was laughing my butt off every time.
7. I learned how to do a headstand
… in just 6 days.
It’s far from perfect but I DID it.
Last year, I jumped 75m into the depth of a valley in a pendulum jump and abseiled from a tower despite my fear of heights.
These days I am ALL about living.
Really living. Instead of just existing, dieting and shrinking. None of these adventures would’ve happened had I held on to the belief that I was too big to be worthy of fun, that I had to lose more weight to be able to go on a tropical island, that one of the most influential people in the world shouldn’t see me in a bikini because I was not at my lowest weight.
NONE of these thrilling and life-changing events would’ve happened had I held on to my old identity of being a skinny girl who had nothing more to give than her body.
So, here’s the question: who are YOU really? Who are YOU outside of dieting and losing weight? What is extraordinary about you? What makes you interesting? What makes you fun?
Trust me, nobody cares about your daily calorie intake. They care about your gifts, your stories, the moments that make your eyes shine. They especially care about your failures because those show that you go for it even if something seems way out of your reach.
