5 Things You May Not Know About Me

I don’t think anyone could accuse me of being anything less than open – either on my blog or otherwise. So, after I read Ryan’s post about things we didn’t know about him and he asked me on twitter when I’d be writing my own, it sort of felt like a challenge. Not from him, of course, but for me to dig even deeper and find things that I haven’t revealed in some capacity or another.  I’ve told you guys the story of my life, I’ve told you the things I’ve learned from my vacuum and I’ve shared things even when they scared the crap out of me. In some ways, I feel like I’ve shared all there is to share but the truth is, there are a few things you may not know about me.

Here goes nothing…

I don’t like showing my legs but not for the usual reasons.

The reason is because I have a birthmark smack dab in the middle of my right shin and, frankly, I feel embarrassed about it. In high school, I used to put bandaids or make-up on it to cover it up. I used to wear jeans in 100* heat and tell people that I wasn’t that hot – all the while sweat pouring off of me. I have even had dreams about it miraculously disappearing and felt disappointed to wake up and find it was still there.

I always felt judged by it and like something was wrong with me. When I was younger, I would envision that people wouldn’t ask or stare when I got older but they still do. I’ve been asked if it is a bruise, if I have a bug on my leg and “what is wrong with your leg”. People ask me why don’t I just get it removed and sometimes, I think I should. Some people ask me why I care so much and I think I shouldn’t.

But, I also believe that it is there to teach me a lesson about self-confidence and being OK. And, I’m getting there. I’ve worn shorts in public this year and there are a couple of people that I have recently deliberately shown it to. And, I could very easily make an appointment to have it removed if I really wanted to. To me, though, at this point, I wonder if that is really even necessary. I’m not really sure but, for now, I am kind of proud of myself for even making the baby steps I’ve made most recently with it.It took me almost 35 years but everything happens in it’s own time.

I’m a post-it note junkie.

I have them everywhere and I have them in all sizes and colors. I use them for everything. I put one on my bathroom mirror with my body image affirmations. I put them on my office wall with my money and business affirmations. I’ve even planned entire group coaching programs on the big ones. When I worked at the golf club, at some points, they would cover the entire right side of my l-shaped desk and every corner of my computer screen. I’ve tried switching to note pads but scratching something off my list is never as satisfying and throwing it away.

I’m a journal junkie, too.

I have those everywhere as well. If I glance around the room I am in, I see five.  But, I’m very picky about them. I don’t like the ones with lines and shy of using art journals, they are hard to find. I use them for mind-mapping and brainstorming. For writing the thoughts that I want to work on, for making note of what I eat and for note taking when chatting with my coach or friends. And trust me, if you don’t have a friend that requires note taking – keep looking . I love my journals and I’ve written in journals for as long as I can remember. I actually only recently got rid of some of the ones I wrote in my late teens and early twenties. Sometimes, I wonder if getting rid of them of the right thing to do but for me, it was more of a symbolic thing. I don’t think I need the journals to remember those times and when I got rid of them, it felt like I was releasing those memories from my mental, emotional and physical grip.

Being called an expert bothers me.

I’ve been called an intuitive eating expert as well as a mindful eating expert and both terms bother me. Not because I don’t believe that I am knowledgeable in both of these things – I am – but, I don’t believe my purpose in life is to teach people the minute details of either of them. I believe my role in life is use both of those philosophies as gateways into to people lives so that I can offer them safe space to explore their thoughts, feelings, limiting beliefs and, ultimately, their lives.

And going even further than what I do professionally, I believe that we can only be experts of ourselves. While there are things I’m great at (fucking awesome at) being called an expert feels like unnecessary pressure. I’m sure some people like it, and it does feel flattering – particularly when people I respect call me that -  but I feel like it sets up a belief that I know everything about it and that I don’t make mistakes.

I’m just a girl chugging along in this life, doing what lights her up. I’m an expert in me and, to me, that is all I need to be. I don’t have it all figured out – I’m just really good at sharing and being open about what I’ve learned in this life.

I like being one of the bloggers that make people think.

I used to look at some of the really popular food journal bloggers and would feel like their blogs must be better than mine because of how many comments they would get. But, what I have come to appreciate is that my blog is just different and that my blog doesn’t serve the same purpose as those blogs do. It isn’t about being better or worse – it is just different. Often times, on my posts, people write comments as long as the post itself and I LOVE that. I love when I have hit on something that someone thinks and feels so deeply about. I love providing light bulb moments and that I can do that just by being myself.

I am grateful for each and every one of you – whether you are just finding me today or whether you’ve been around for years.  I truly feel like you all enrich my life in a way that wouldn’t be possible without this blog and it is my pleasure to give you my perspective and make you think about things in a new way.

xo.