Dashing Dish

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “If I could just lose those last 10 pounds…”, “If I could only get that promotion…”, ” If I could only have nicer things…”(and the list goes on). If you are living and breathing on this earth, then there’s a strong possibility that you’ve found yourself thinking these types of thoughts whether you realize it or not.

As women, much of where we feel our ‘imperfections’ lie are discovered only after we measure ourselves against others. Often times, we may even feel like we ‘look pretty good’, or that ‘we’ve got great things going for us’ only to go outside of our homes and see someone who has something that we don’t. Suddenly, we find ourselves feeling dissatisfied, wishing that we could change or improve something about our lives.

How amazing has this fall season been so far!?! I’ve been taking in the amazing natural beauty of Michigan right now, as the trees are turning different shades of colors! I have to say that we’ve had the best of both worlds lately, with 70 degree and sunny weather, and all of the beauty of the changing seasons!

When I was about 14 years old I was the ‘typical’ teenage girl. I enjoyed sleepovers with my friends, flirting with boys, and I was even on my high schools cheer team! I was pretty carefree, much like a teenager should be…Until one day, that sense of being ‘young and free’ suddenly came to a screeching halt when a boy came up to me at school, and handed me a picture he drew. It was a picture of the backside of a woman who was severely overweight, and busting out of her clothes. (Take note, I was a pretty average size teen at the time).

As I sat there looking at the drawing, I still remember the words that came out of his mouth… He looked at me laughing and said, “I want you to know that that is what you look like from behind.” It was at that very moment that I suddenly went from a ‘carefree’ young woman, unaware up until that point of my body, to believing a lie that would have me in a bondage for the next 8 years of my life.