2021 - Happiness

Winter -- 2021

To put this into perspective I was 16 when I begin my “diet” journey. A full time athlete essentially eating little to nothing. When I wrote this I was 18-19. I know there are young girls/ boys out there who deal with a daily struggle like this far longer than I did. That is why my main mission was to bring awareness and spread it.

I never claimed to anybody or even myself to be an expert in this field, but I do believe in the power of growing with people who experience the same struggles as you. During this time period I had many people I knew that came up to me in person or online saying I inspired them in some way shape or form. I was humble. I know now that what I am doing means something to someone out there, and although my goal was for personal growth I also knew that if I could possibly help one person out there that was my real calling.

Summer -- 2021

“2021 was the year that I chose happiness in a variety of forms. I chose happiness in myself, and that was the first time I have ever said that” 

I wrote this as a girl who had only been recovering for about a year at this point and I had already made so much progress doing so. I remember writing this and thinking to myself “I will be okay”, if I was strong enough to get through this essentially alone “I will be okay.” That is the mindset shift you have to have when it comes to any type of recovery journey. Knowing that in the end no matter what you will be okay, better in fact.

Fall -- 2021

I can say this now with confidence as a the girl who grasped onto that feeling of hopefulness and strength, and 3 years later is having to relearn. This is what I knew this project was always meant for when I created it. It brings hope, love, value, kindness, friendship, community and growth. All in its purest form.

I look back almost 3 years later and my initial reaction was “I feel for that girl.” Not knowing what she has in store in the coming years, and knowing this is the smallest of issues she will have to face. But, also unknowingly this journey of growth she was on made her be able to deal with those bumps in a way she never would have previously been able to.