March 2022 | Mysite

March 26, 2022

Good afternoon! How was your week? Was it just me or did this week take years to finally pass. Which leads me to say, I cannot wait until next week. It will be Spring Break which means no school!!!! I need this break so bad. It is going to be so nice to be able to sleep in some and just relax. My family and I are going to Florida for the week to see my grandmother as well as visit the beach. I cannot wait. Getaways can be so good for mental health. It is so beneficial to simply take time to step back and rest. No this does not mean you have to get in the car and go anywhere (though that is fun) you can go on a “vacation” right from your house. This is a strategy we practiced so much while I was in treatment and while so many of those tricks seemed useless, this one helped me a lot and I still use it today.

When we escape from the busy lives we all live it gives us time to reflect back on what we have endured this far. It is so important to look back and thank God for all He has provided. We forget all the many blessings He provides on a daily basis. Simple things like the air we breath or the fact that we woke up are blessings in and of themselves. I am completely guilty of overlooking these truths which is why when I take a mind “vacation” I can take the time to search for the small things. Actually in reality, the things we as people claim as “small or simple” are some of the most complex parts of our lives. Breathing for example, it is honestly amazing how God designed our bodies to work and while we take it for granted every single day it is incredible when you think about it. God is so good. “the Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are all over His works.” Psalm 145:9

I encourage you this week to take a mind “vacation” of some sort at least once this week. It could be in your bedroom, outside, at the lake, or anywhere at anytime. Side note, maybe not when your driving. Take the time to escape to your happy place and imagine it just being you there, enjoying all the simple things in life. I promise if you do this you will discover so much more to be thankful for and you will feel more grounded/prepared for whatever may be ahead. I hope this helps you out as we approach this brand new week. Remember it is a fresh start, challenge yourself and please let me know if there is anything I can do for any of you. Love y’all so much, have a fantastic week.

Easter themed B3 boxes will be available until April 10th, be sure to submit forms for those you know need encouragement.
Also, anyone want the latest t-shirt? Shoot me and email for sizes!

March 20, 2022

Good morning everyone! I am so glad you decided to come check in today. I pray you have all had an amazing weekend and are looking forward to the start of Spring! It is crazy to me that it feels like just yesterday we were celebrating Christmas and in only 28 days it will be Easter. I think it is safe to say when you are going through the daily motions of life, time slips away and before you know it, you are days if not weeks out. It is extremely difficult to focus in and be present when you are attending school or have a job because you continually go about a schedule each day of the week and it is almost as if it becomes a second nature.

Now, if you like me you really enjoy being scheduled and following patterns. If you ask anyone who knows me really well, I am a very repetitive person. I wake up every morning around the same time and go to bed around the same time every single day. And to be completely transparent, when plans do not work out according to my schedule, I can be thrown off track, startled in plain sight, and simply face anxiety because of it. This is something that as someone who struggles with OCD, I have to challenge every once in a while. Because let’s be honest, what kind of life are you living if you do the exact same thing every single day of the week? You miss out on so much. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with having rituals because by all means, I am all about finding peace in mine however, we have to step outside of our comfort zones every once in a while. Maybe this is going on a family vacation, visiting a friend for the day, or even sleeping in. Whatever it may be for you, it is so beneficial to challenge yourself.

I often try and tell people that if wasn’t for challenging myself and pushing past the breaking point, I would not be who I am today. Recovery is hard and is all about being in times of discomfort. I am saying this for all types of recovery, eating disorders, depression, drugs, alcohol, harmful relationships, etc. It is all difficult yet, without being willing to dip our toes in the water, and feel for more, we will find ourselves trapped in the same patterns over and over again. Malachi 3:6 states that “ I this Lord do not change. So you, the dependents of Jacob, are not destroyed.” What this verse is telling us is that God is unchanging, He is constant and always will be. However people, sinners on the other hand are not. We go through trials and tribulations that make us rise and some that make us fall. We are always being shaped and transformed by life itself. But listen, there is hope because despite all the “crap” we go through God promises that we will not be destroyed.

This verse is so promising to me when I am about to test myself, I just remember that no matter the circumstance, the devil can not end me and I know that whatever it is that I go through, I will use for His glory. I encourage you today to do the same. Step outside of your comfort zone, do something that bring up mixed feelings and while you are doing it, constantly remind yourself that you will NEVER be destroyed.

I love you so much and know you can do this. Please submit B3 Box forms, it is a great way to be a source of strength to yourself and or someone you may know. (Also, great for Easter). See you all next week!

March 13, 2022

good morning! I pray you have all had a good week and I want you all to know I have been praying for God to give you strength to push though whatever it may be that you are currently facing. It is so easy when we are in the midst of these difficult times to loose faith in the Father. We are left asking WHY? Why would God want to put us in this pain and the honest truth is that, he does not like to see us hurting. However, it is though the trials we face that we are able to grow closer to Christ and build bigger faith in Him. If you think back to life before you knew who Christ was, I am sure you have been endured some rough patches since then. It could be sickness, loss of a loved one, rejection, anxiety or anything along those lines. But now I want you to ask yourself where would you be as far as your walk with Christ if wasn’t for that trial. I know for me personally, if wasn’t for my battle with anorexia, I would not be who I am today. God has allowed me to grow into this amazing person capable of inspiring and helping others going through similar battles. I tell people all the time, I would not change my story for the world because of who I have grown to be.

However, it is so easy to look over these facts when we are in the middle of dealing with the trial. It is so easy to simply feel like nothing positive is going to result from your situation. Yet, we must remember the purpose in that battle. No, we cannot see the grand plan, we do not know the exact purpose but we do know who is in control and that He has a purpose for all of this “junk” we are enduring. It is during the times we want to give up that we grow the most and realize why we are here. I try to remind people all the time that God chooses His strongest children to undergo the biggest trials. This is because He knows who can do it, He knows who has the strength, trust, and willpower to not let in to what the devil is trying to defeat us with. Life is a constant battle between Christ and Satan. Satan wants to take advantage of our weaknesses to gain control over our lives and the only way for us to escape that is to trust in the Savior of our world.

I know, I know, all this is so easy for one to speak and a whole other thing to put action towards is, but trust me it is worth the fight. God is shaping you into something even more powerful than before. If you keep hanging in these I promise this pain will suffice. And you will see the meaning behind all of it. You are stronger, braver, more faithful, and relentless, don’t let the devil win this battle. We know who is in control, don’t let in, push through.

I love you all to the ends of this earth and I hope this update will encourage you to keep trying and to stay positive. You are amazing and becoming even more. Have a great week, and please let me know if there is anything I can help you with! Remember to fill out B3 Box forms for you or anyone you know in need of a little extra encouragement!

March 5, 2022

Good afternoon! I’m sorry to be posting at a different time than usual, but I really felt like we should change it up. I have been so excited because the notifications on my phone that pop up every time someone gets on BBB have been going off like crazy. Every time a new viewer comes, I cannot help but smile. It is truly the work of God when I see more and more people being impacted by my story. Which means, the more people you tell about BBB and the more we normalize mental health awareness the happier everyone will be! This week I want to focus on something I think many people mistake and it is about me and my story. I often see friends or people in public that look at me and simply ask how I am who I am. How I do everything I do? How I am able to impact so many? How I encourage and inspire people older and younger. Yet, I am not saying all of this to brag. In fact I want to do just the opposite. All of these qualities are great and honestly a gift from God. But, I think others are so quick to overlook the truth that I STILL STRUGGLE.

I am not going to lie and I think it is fairly evident that I have come so far as a person through the trials me and my family have faced. What God has allowed me to endure has honestly made me who I am today however, that does not mean He is done with my story. Eating disorders and mental health in general are a reoccurring they are forever going to be in our minds. I try to tell people that I still have thoughts about my appearance and weight and I have accepted the fact that it will forever be this way. Anorexia for me personally will never be “gone for good”. The voices will quiet and the behaviors will lessen but it will always be a part of my life. The difference is now I know how to cope with these thoughts and feelings whereas before I simply restricted I now have healthy ways to attack these thoughts. I never want anyone to look at me and say “she is perfect” because I am nowhere near that. I mess up, I go though difficult times, I still live in a world the same world as you that is a constant battle.

I tell people as often as possible that nobody’s story is over. God takes us through highs in life as well as lows so that we can grow and become bigger and stronger. We experience times that feel “easy” just to give us rest for the next big testing. These times are so that we can make a difference and help those facing similar struggles. James 1 verses 2-3 state that we should “count it all joy, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” There is a reason for our struggles and nobody on this earth isn’t going through something that is simply a walk in the park. We all have our “junk” and no matter how far someone has come or the example they are setting or the stuff they are saying, everybody is struggling with something. Don’t forget this because no matter the day, you are not alone.

I pray that this update would be eye opening to many people who tend to look at their biggest influences and simply ask how they are so perfect. Trust me I know, and I do it too. There are people, role models in my life that I look at and wonder how they have such a flawless, positive, easy life. But I have to remind myself and I pray you do too that they have, will, or are going through trials that are difficult too. You are all amazing and strong enough to fight the battles. Stay focused and remember God will use this for His glory. I love y’all so much and please continue to advertise BBB as well as submit B3 Box forms. Have a great week!