Update!

I feel obligated to update you, dear reader. As you may or may not know, I am pregnant with baby #2. We were very excited to receive this news.. until the sickness started in. I was nauseous with Fiona, but that was nothing compared to this. I had a very picky stomach, that pretty much would only hold down freezies. I was also taken off all medications, except for my prenatal. I was nervous about doing so, but of course wanted what is best for the baby. On top of all that I got prenatal carpel tunnel, which apparently is a thing?

So, fast forward to today. Luckily, the nausea has pretty much gone away (4 weeks later). The carpel tunnel comes and goes. I am still trying to recover from being so sick, though. It really did a number on my mental state. Old fears and thoughts started making my mind home again. Old eating disorder rituals have started popping up in my daily life. I feel like I am in limbo. I know logically, that I need to eat to keep the baby nourished. I know, logically, that I have to take care of myself for the baby. I know all of these things. That doesn't make daily living any easier.

I have been honest with my husband and my family. I have started looking into a couple of different options. It's frustrating, though, to finally muster up the courage to admit that I need help, yet be rejected, more than once. I don't think asking for help is easy for anyone, let alone some one whose disease is an inwardly isolating one. The thing that hurts the most, I think, is being rejected by people who are close. Who know my struggles, and still choose to paste a smile on their face and pretend everything is going to be okay. When is it too late to help some one in need? Is it when looking down at a cold, lifeless body? Because that is the reality of depression, and ED. These are dark thoughts, I know, but it's my reality, something I face everyday. I can't stand when people say "I would have never guessed", or "I wish I could have done more". Those are words of denial. You only see what you want to see. When was the last time you actually took the time to truly listen to some one's troubles, and then helped them brainstorm solutions? When was the last time you did a random act of kindness? Words are just words, but action is love.

Vulnerability at its finest...

I am broadening my horizon.. and it is scary! A while back I reached out (randomly) to a gal who writes an awesome blog, and I shared my idea of a way (if willing) she could help in getting my blog out there to more readers. She thought it was a wonderful idea, and we began collaborating. I would like to say that it's "all in a day's work" or "no big deal", but being this open and vulnerable is still new and a little uncomfortable to me. I'm not good at stepping outside my box of safety when it comes to making positives changes in my life. I have to continually redirect my thinking, and check my actions often.

That being said, I am so excited to be doing something positive not only for myself, but hopefully others too! It is so important that we take time to appreciate who we are and all that our body does for us, with out us even thinking about it! I am grateful that my body has this continuous breathing idea under control, or I'd be in big trouble! So, if you have not already, post a picture of you, in some kind of outfit that makes you feel wonderful, smashing, and/or sexy to instagram with #jandmloveyourself to be part of this awesomeness! Because we are all beyoutiful!

Shout out to all the mothers out there- You the real MVP!

Even though Mother's Day has past, I think it is important to celebrate these wonderful women in our lives today, and every day. They truly are the real MVP's! This is a poem I wrote to my mom. She is the most courageous, beautiful, and loving woman I know. For even though she has nine children and 18 grandchildren, she loves us all with abundance.

A Mother’s Touch

Knowing that my mom is near,

Or only a phone call away,

Lifts the weight off my shoulders,

And releases the worst of my fear.

A mother’s touch is like no other,

It cannot be compared.

But it passes through each generation.

From mother, to mother, to mother.

Some search very far and wide,

To find this long lost gem.

And once found, breathe a sigh of relief.

Eternal love now stands together through life’s tide.

Claire Eckel, 2015

Life is about feeling wonderful!

Ahhh... Summer is just around the corner, I can smell it! I am loving life. I got an awesome job opportunity, so I am anxiously waiting to hear back from the company! I am a little sad to be putting my daughter back in daycare, but honestly, she absolutely LOVES it. Life is flowing smoothly, and it feels wonderful. New and exciting opportunities pop up, like the one that popped up a couple weeks ago.
I am going to be guest blogging on one of my favorite blogs, jackieandmarilynblog.wordpress.com. We are going to do a week of "self love". I am going to share my story, and then they are going to post pictures of outfits that make them feel fabulous, wonderful about themselves (the blog is about fashion)! Then, to wrap up the week, I am going to post a picture of me in my most darling outfit that I like to rock. I am inviting all of you, my dearest readers, to join in on the fun! During the week of May 18-22, post a picture of you in something that makes you appreciate YOU for who you are. It can be anything, painting smock, yoga pants, little black dress, whatever it is that you feel wonderful. I will post the hashtags later on as I know more. Can't wait to see all you lovelies in your glory! Shine on, sweet thing, shine on.

For all the crabby people in the world, READ THIS STORY.

Once upon a time, there was a city called SmilesGalore. In this city, it was against the law to frown or cry or even just plain ol look the tiniest bit down in the dumps. Every day, upon opening ones eyes, a smile (or a similar look) had to be pasted on tight. The reason for this, the elders said, was so that everyone would just automatically BE happy. You know the ol "fake it til ya make it"?

Well, one morning, little miss Sunny herself just couldn't get her smile to stay. As she looked in the mirror, she tried willing her lip muscles to move in the shape of even a half grin. No luck. So she tried taping her smile up. Didn't work-AND her skin hairs got ripped off! Sunny ker-plunked onto her bed. "What am I going to do?" she wailed. "If I don't have my smile on, people will know I'm not happy... who knows what would happen then!" With no other options popping into her mind, Sunny trudged down the steps to eat her breakfast.

"GOOOOOOOOOD MORNING SUNNY!" her father exclaimed, with a grin so wide it looked as if his face was about to burst. "Mornin'," Sunny said meekly.
"Oh my beeswax! Oh my knobbly knees! Why haven't you got a smile on yet, Sunny?" shrieked her mother.  Sunny looked at her mom, then looked back at the floor. "Well, it won't stay up," she squeaked. "B-B-But, why NOT?" replied her mom.
Sunny shook her head in confusion. "I don't know. I went to bed with it on, and then when I woke up... well, it just wouldn't stay on! And besides," she softly whispered, "I don't really feel happy today"
"Ehhhhhh, what was that? Whadja say? I can't hear when you mumble" her father bellowed.
Sunny sighed, and firmly said "I am not happy today, father".
"Ya mean to say, that you're going to walk around this city, WITHOUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE?" gurgled her father.
"I guess. I mean I tried and tried to get my smile to stay, but, well, it just wouldn't." Sunny responded.
"Whelp, I guess I'd better let the townsfolk know, and see if they can be just a little more kind when crossing paths with you," her mother sighed. "Hopefully they won't treat you any differently".
And so it came to be, that in the town of SmilesGalore, people began to realize that they didn't have to pretend to be happy when they weren't. In fact, it actually felt better to smile ONLY  when they felt genuinely joyous!
Moral of the story: be grateful you live in a place that allows you to choose whether to smile or not. That it all.

The Joy of Living Life!

I DID IT AGAIN. Sorry. I can't believe it's been a whole month since I have posted anything. I'm not sure why that is. I guess life happened. I have been scrambling here and there for what feels like forever (really just 2 weeks).
So, now I have a minute to breathe and reflect. I have been up and down mood wise (no surprise there), but it feels different now for some reason. I think it's a combination of things. For one, I am practicing what I talk about. And guess what? It works for me, too! I am not so different after all. I am learning how to balance exercise with normal eating (you know, letting my body tell me when I'm full or hungry). I recognize that, while in the past, over-exercising was an issue, I have the tools now to walk myself through those thoughts and change my behavior. It's scary. It makes me mad sometimes. Sometimes I want to do things the easy way and not have to be aware so much. And yet, here I am. Eating normally, with no conditions. Here I am, exercising when I feel like it and having fun, NOT because I feel like I have to compensate. I am also noticing my thoughts and focusing on the ones that made me feel GOOD. I've noticed that the more I think about the thoughts that make me feel good, the more natural and consistent these thoughts become. And when that happens, soon it starts becoming part of what I know and believe about myself. And let me tell you something. I absolutely LOVE feeling good about myself. And you know what? I have every right to have those feelings! Now, I am not saying that I am perfect or invincible or above anyone else. I just really like feeling good about myself. You should too. With every negative thought you have about yourself, there is the exact opposite thought, too. I am shifting my focus from the negative thoughts and focusing on the positive- what is here and now. I'm going to continue doing and thinking things that make me feel that deep, satisfying joy of living life. I'll let you know how it goes.

I am not God.... right?

It's so easy for me to get caught in every day life. It's even easier to forget all of the good things that I DO have. Being an addict, it's second nature for me to be self-centered. And while becoming a mother has helped with this tremendously, I still struggle with it now and then. Here are some things I have found that don't work:
-Staying in my self pity. The longer I'm in it, the harder it gets to pull myself out. Before I know it, I have made myself a nice, cozy bed and have no plans of getting out of said bed. I start shutting others out claiming, "they just don't understand me".  Unless they are bringing me a blueberry muffin. Blueberry muffins are good.
-Trying to control others and getting them to do what I want. Other people are their own entities. I have no right to manipulate or force them to do what I want. Even if I think it's what is best for them. A lot of time my motives are good ones, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm still manipulating. I have to trust that their God/Higher Power has their back. I also have to trust that there is a God, and it's NOT ME.
-Justifying behaviors and thoughts. Whenever I find the need to justify something, usually that's a good clue for me to stop and take an honest look at whatever it is I'm trying to justify. Justifying leads to compromising my spirituality, and that is like balancing on the ledge of a super high building with strong winds starting to blow.

"So what then, does actually work," you may be thinking. It has taken me time and a lot of trial and error, but here are a few things I have found that helps be less self-centered:
-Helping others that I know are in some sort of need. This is good for putting my problems into perspective. It also gets me out of my head, simply because I am too busy to be thinking about me. Helping others is also good for making me feel less alone. Knowing some one else has life struggles and getting to help them with theirs lets me know that whatever I'm going through probably isn't that uncommon (and that I'm not completely insane).
-Reading positive messages daily. Whether it be from a daily meditation book or short quotes,  giving myself affirmations and ways to continue my day with love and tolerance lets me be open minded to all that my Higher Power has in store for me.
-Attitude of gratitude. When I am continually reminding myself of all that I do have, instead of focusing on what I don't. I feel better about myself and am less likely to hold resentments against others. It also keeps in contact with my HP. Talking with my Higher Power daily is crucial for me to not get caught up in selfishness and controlling behavior. I remember to accept whatever happens that day, knowing that I am not alone on this journey and that no matter how hard I tried, things are gonna happen the way they are gonna happen.
A wise woman once asked me "do you want to be right, or do you want to be free?". This struck home with me. It is a reminder that I can choose to let things go, freeing me from all that is blocking me from my spirituality.