Saturday, August 24, 2013

Don't Let Others Judge You

 Hi All! I was looking through some old pics and came upon my old seventh grade school basketball team photos. I think I'm rocking the pink converse don't you? (This was back when girls really didn't wear Chuck Taylors!) My nickname Pinky was a result of this fashion choice! However, I had other names in school that I never appreciated. You're fat, go play with the girls, you aren't as good as the boys...etc. etc. I was teased for my looks, and teased because I was a tomboy.
I definitely wasn't a skinny girl, and had a chubby face, but I really wasn't that huge. Of course I felt 500 lbs. when people were teasing me, and unfortunately, I didn't have siblings to help stick up for me, nor was I really the person to stick up for myself back then. My point to this blog, is don't worry about what people say or think, do what you want to do. I wore pink converse, not because I was trying to fit in, but I wore them because I liked them and wanted to rock 'em! When the boys & some girls gave me crap for being the athletic, rough and tumble kid, I tended to have a better way to handle it. I'd challenge the boys on the court with a "Watch Me & I'll Beat Ya", and when the girly girls were having that caddy, shallow, attitude, I frankly didn't want to be friends with them as they weren't people of good character. Fortunately, I found girls on the team that also dealt with the same sexism, so when practicing or playing the game, there wasn't discrimination.
Surround yourself with people that accept you, and don't even waste your time with the others. The others are usually just too shallow and don't have their priorities straight anyway!
I do wish I would've had more strength and confidence to tell the haters to take a flying leap back then, as I would have saved myself a lot of wasted agony and pain. I've never been average, normal or beautiful in societies eyes, and today I don't care. I'm not going to change for anyone but myself. If guys don't appreciate my athleticism, then I don't want to be around them. If the girly girls are going to be caddy, I will walk elsewhere. I'm unique and embrace my weirdness. Yes, I might miss out on dates because I don't act all helpless and stupid, but I don't want a guy in my life that doesn't appreciate my take charge attitude. Life is an adventure and I'm going to enjoy it regardless!!
Enjoy your life, and you will find people that accept you. If people are going to judge you, they have no time to love you, so take time to surround yourself with the right kind of people. Even with my weirdness I have close friends that embrace my unique personality. Unfortunately, most of them live in another state, but I still put myself  out there to meet new people and let them see what a wonderful person I am, even with tattoos, boxing gloves, sweaty gym clothes and all!
Happy Health!
Fit Tomboy

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Advice For Young Ladies

I'm probably twice or three times your age, but just wanted to give you a little advice. It's taken me decades to figure a lot out about myself, but I think if I had some advice, I might have saved a lot of pain and time.
So here it goes:
1) Don't talk negativity about your body. It's one of the best things you've got. Yes, it's okay to want to improve some things, but treat it with the respect it deserves. Health and fitness are more important than your looks. When you get my age, you live with your jiggly wigglys. Gravity catches up to you, even if you are in decent shape, so enjoy your body!

2) Don't compare yourself to others. If you walk to a car dealership, you see a lot of attractive makes and models, and if many different people are attracted by the different makes! No one drive the same type of car, so don't think that you have to be the same as your friends.
3) Don't think the people on magazines are real! Can we say AIRBRUSHED? The magazine companies spend tons of money to make something look nice to sell magazines, not to make you feel good about yourself. So don't bother buying them!

4) Don't be afraid to be yourself. I don't give much thought to what others think and basically you won't please everyone anyway, so what is the point of worrying what they think. I am happy being me, and the rest of the world can take a flying leap. Love me or don't. It's up to them to decide. I'm not going to change for anyone but myself.

5) Don't believe what people say. If someone makes a critical compliment, it's your choice to believe them or not. Now they might have some constructive advice, but if they are being critical and rude, don't give them fuel by believing them.

6) Don't wrap up people's compliments into your self esteem or if you don't receive compliments, don't think you aren't good at something. You need to be your own cheerleader. I think I've heard someone call me beautiful 5 or 6 times my entire life. Does that me I'm a beauty or ugly? No. If I have confidence in myself, I don't need to hear compliments. They are flattering, but I don't need to hear them to feel good. I had a boss that never told me I was doing a good job. Now, does that mean I'm a bad worker? No. She believed that she didn't need to tell me, and I got good marks when it came to evaluations. Yes, it would have been nice, but it doesn't mean I need to hear it to be doing a good job.

7) You don't need a man or a kid to have a good life. If you wrap your entire happiness into having a boyfriend, husband, or having children then what's going to happen to you if you don't have those, or your boyfriend leaves or your spouse dies? What will you do when your kids grow up anyway? Enjoy life with or without a significant other. Life is fun and adventure regardless!! I'm 42, not married, and I'm not moping around waiting. I'm just living every day and seeing what to do next and what other adventures I can experience.

8) Last, define yourself. Yes DEFINE YOURSELF. Let no one define you but you. I am a certain type of woman. You might be a different type. I define my life based on how I want to live. I box, love sports, am comfortable in a tank and shorts, blast my stereo and sing in the truck and when I FEEL like it, I wear a dress, make up and go out. I'm worthy of my life and am not going to let others define how I should live it.

Anyway, if that advice helps you avoid years and decades of sadness and pain then great. You are a worthy person! If you want to make changes, do it because you want to. Live life to the fullest, no matter what!
Happy Health
Fit Tomboy