Found A Way To Hope - Ever Changing

Words are amazing. Pictures breathtaking. SOAM is inspiring, uplifting and in it's own right practically therapeutic at least for me. I guess by now you're probably wonder what SOAM stands for; Shape of a Mother.  Today, like nearly every other day in my life, after waking I  got dressed to greet the day. 

 Nothing unusual about the task, after all it's simply putting on a few articles of clothing. Though simple as simple is, I can take any task and find a way to criticize or analyze myself. Most often, doing this task, it usually comes down to my body. My ever changing body. My scars, my stretch marks, my flappy stomach, dimpled butt cheeks, cellulite covered thighs and my beautiful breasts.  Those of you who've managed to dig through all of my blogs randomness have probably read a few posts regarding my body issues. I've had them for years. 

I've fought my battles with both anorexia and bulimia, self love and self hate. And I've also had a life changing miracle happen, motherhood, TWICE! Each and every day is a different day. Now, in the moment, for the most part I'm okay with myself. I've accepted myself. Does that mean I love every inch of skin? No. Does it mean you'll find me scantily clad or breaking out the bikini? No. Will I ever feel the same about my body as I did 5 years ago? No. My body is ever changing.   

In the past two days, I have become an avid visitor to the SOAM website. To be honest, I was having a fat, disgusted with myself, wanting change kind of day. After many many google searches on the best and healthy way to lose the flap of skin on my stomach post baby, (yes I know, I know, my kids are 4 and 2, I just haven't found any lasting motivation. Still working on that, please I beg of you, give me time!) I decided to do a search on postpartum bellies of real mothers, and that's when I came across SOAM.  Of course celebrities are real mothers as well and I give them props for how quickly they bounce back, but I was looking for your every day moms. The ones who work, or stay home, or do a combination of the two. Or the single moms, or the moms with large families. I wanted to see every day women like the women I run into at the grocery store, but I always felt it would be a little awkward and inappropriate to ask them to show me their stomachs in the middle of the cereal isle. 

The SOAM website allows you to read their stories in their words, with their photographs. To me, this has been a gift. A way to hope. A way to acknowledge that the way I feel about my body on any given day is not only acceptable, but valid. I have feelings. I have my good days and I have my bad days as I have said before. But SOAM in so many ways has allowed my vision to change and to be a little less hard on myself. To be more accepting of what my body has become and the empowerment to know that if I want to change my body, I can; it is ever changing. 

Ever Changing.

Motivation, Or Lack There Of

"People often say that motivation doesn't last.  Well, neither does bathing.  That's why we recommend it daily."

- Zig Ziglar

After the holiday season, my house always seems to be in disarray.  As I sit here looking at the heaping mounds of laundry yet to do, I just cannot seem to find the umpf to get up, wash, dry, fold and put it away.   Sure, I can see the benefits of having it done; clean clothes, no more piles of laundry on my floor, and one less thing to do tomorrow.  Of course when I'm done here, I will force myself to do it, cause it needs to get done. But what fun is that?  Forcing yourself to do something you don't like.  I just wish I could find a way to enjoy doing the mundane daily chores in my life, but who really enjoys doing laundry?  Clearly, not I.

Anyway, I seem to find myself in this predicament often enough, lacking the motivation to get things done.  Whether it be a simple chore of cleaning or pertaining to new years resolutions, you know the standard, lose weight, get into shape, blah, blah, blah.  So this morning I googled motivation to see if I could at all get a jump start.  I read a few quotes, stumbled across some advertising webpages for "motivation in a box" which at least made me laugh, and then a read a few blogs.  One page in particular stood out, because it seems to give you a step by step of achieving nearly any goal you put their techniques to.  Zen Habits had a great article that you can find here, to get off your butt and get moving so to speak. 

Whether you put their tips towards your own new years resolutions, your goals before swim suit season, or to the mere ponderances of personal change, they sound like they can be a real help.  Say you want to eat healthier, but the thought of cooked carrots makes you gag, or that you want to lose 20 pounds, but the boredom of a tredmill keeps you from even starting, these tips give you the tools to find new motivation, or excitement if you will, of obtaining your goals. 

I personally am looking forward to attempting a few of these and will let you know if they have been of any help to me.  After having read through a few of the suggestions, I've found I've already implimented a couple into my routine, before I even knew they were "tips."  So, kudos to me. Yes, I just did a little celebration for myself for being so "smart."  :)  But as for now, laundry beckons and it doesn't look like I'm going to have much luck with my imaginary magic wand, it appears to be broken. 

So hopefully, even if these tips don't pan out for me, they will help someone else.  Good luck on your goals, whatever they may be.