Belinda Olsen Photography » Utah Wedding & Portrait Photographer | Logan, Utah | 435-881-2184

This week I slipped in my parking lot and ruined my favorite jeans.  You know which ones I’m talking about?  The ones you feel great in and fit perfectly every day you wear them. Your comfy, cute, go-to jeans.  I ruined those.  I went on a quest to replace them.  I walked through the store picking up jeans I liked in multiple sizes and soon I had over t-w-e-n-t-y pairs of jeans in my arms.  One adorable sales clerk came to my rescue to get a dressing room started and she asked if I wanted help narrowing down my selection.  Um, yes please!  She asked what I loved and hated about the pair of jeans I was wearing and what brand they were.  In the middle of answering her questions another nearby sales associated scoffed and said X brand of jeans weren’t made to be worn by someone my size.

WHAT.  THE.  CUSS?!

She later went on to say some other pretty brutal things.  I didn’t have a problem not letting her use my clothing toward her monthly sales goals when she wanted to ring up my purchase.  I told her nicely what she said wasn’t okay.  I went to the kinder associate to ring up my items.  Really, I’m really disappointed to say that I let this get under my skin.  Now I’m not posting my story and feelings to get pity or sympathy.  I’m posting this because I am certain that I am not the only person who struggles with feeling comfortable in their own skin.

Honestly,  this has been a lifelong struggle for me.

One blessing in my life has been my neighbor Tara.  Tara used to work at an eating disorder clinic.  We’ve had many talks about food, nutrition, perception of our bodies, how scales are evil and healthy living is key.  After my pant shopping experience I knew Tara would say the right things that I needed to hear.  Not because she was blowing sunshine my way but because she should really be an inspirational speaker for teaching people about self acceptance.

You want to know who I am?

I’m a person who doesn’t always have it together.  I’m retraining myself to have balance in my life after 7 months of having gallbladder problems deplete my emotional, physical and spiritual reserves.  I love to cook, eat and try new foods.  I’m trying learning to enjoy exercise.  I’m an awesome wife  😉   I’m a hard worker.  I try to be a great friend.  I’m a makeup addict.  In my favorite words from the book,  The Help, ‘I is kind.  I is smart.  I is important.’

I’m a pretty awesome person. Some days…I just forget.   My goal for you and for me, is to have more days that we remember our awesomeness!

PINIMAGE

Thanks Cindy for this photo of me cheesing it while doing jazz hands for the camera!