Hello friends! I’m excited to share with you the journey of my personal growth and what has driven me to this spot in my life. My personal health has its own story, and how I’ve handled it is another. As I open up to you, I hope to relate, maybe walk in the same footsteps, inspire and connect!
My heart condition has been one of the biggest challenges I’ve lived with. Loving myself is the second biggest challenge I’ve conquered. If there’s anything I’ve learned in the last 23 years, self-love and taking of yourself are the strongest, most effective things you can do for yourself. We may not look at it enough, but it’s so powerful.
When I was three years old I was diagnosed with a heart condition (one in 100 people are). I had three surgeries when I was a baby and a Melody Procedure six years ago. At first, the doctors thought I had a form of asthma because I was so short of breath but that wasn’t the case. From a symbol of my surgeries, I was given a long scar from my chest to my stomach. Growing up I was so self-conscious about my scar, I was embarrassed. I hated when people asked me where it was from and the fact people even noticed. For years I wore scarfs and necklaces only to cover my scar because I was tired of everyone asking me about it. I literally just wished I was normal.
Now so much time has passed, I don’t remember the last time I wore a scarf… really half the time I forget my scar exists. People still ask me about my scar and I simply tell them like it’s not a big deal.. because it’s a part of me and that’s what I wasn’t accepting before. I’m learning that this isn’t something worth hiding but to embrace it. I now see my scar as what makes me who I am. Something that’s just f***ing unique, something that represents me, something I have a story for. I say this because I’ve learned to live in and LOVE my body. Not everyone does. There’s a reason I was given this body, this scar, this condition, and writing this I’m at one of my healthiest points I’ve ever been. (Now my biggest worry is my scar being the only part of me that doesn’t tan.)
”I want to see what happens if I don’t give up”
Doctors told me I could never do sports, I would never have the energy and it would be too straining on my body. Screw the doctors! With my years of competitive gymnastics, high school and college cheer, dance team and fitness classes, I’ve proved them wrong. I have this condition which I choose to not phase me. I always put my health first and now my doctors say I’m one of the healthiest people they’ve seen with this condition.
“I’ve always loved the idea of not being what people expect me to be”
My heart and growth experiences are what has influenced and led me to focus on loving myself. For all women out there who have scars, birthmarks, health conditions, a disease, I hope what I say speaks to you. To love yourself and that condition or mark you have makes you different from everyone else. I see countless women self-conscious, not proud of who they are, mentally suffering and wishing they didn’t have this or that. They take it to social media, confessing to something they wish they didn’t have.
But those posts, the thoughts, the wishing, the condition that makes YOU different… that’s what it makes you. Special.
Since this was always a struggle for me to recognize and stressful to deal with, I’m reaching out to those who are needing an extra boost. There are hella gorgeous women with gorgeous personalities who have stories behind them you would never know. Everything on the surface seems so right but that’s just a shield. It’s important to recognize what you have been through, how to build a better you and what you can honestly make of yourself.
You only get one body, treat it like you mean it. Loving yourself effortlessly, putting yourself first, taking care of yourself when you know you need it and flaunting your figure is so attractive!
I’m the happiest I’ve been health wise in a long bleepin time and it was simply dedicating time for myself and being a better version of myself. Results are more than rewarding. Love yourself one day at a time, it will feel incredible (in case you didn’t read all of that).
All of this leads to why something that’s been a huge focus for me this year has been working on and allowing time for myself. That’s something everyone can work on. I didn’t know how to start taking action or what it meant/how much time to invest in myself, but with seeing how much happier I’ve become has made me realize how much others can relate.
Join me on self-challenges, self-awareness and reflection, activities for the mind and bettering each other! What are you going through? Share your stories or questions you may have below so I can connect with even you more and we can understand each other on another self-love level!
You can have a lot going on in your life, a lot moving forward coming at you, a lot you’re unsure of, maybe big decisions you have to make, or maybe need some direction.
But first, YOU. ♥
“I never cared enough about investing time into myself until I realized how much happier I could be”
Hey, Madi! Thanks for sharing your story. I have had many health challenges as well. I get asked all the time about my droopy eyelid and I HATE IT. Maybe I’ll find a new persepective.
Love it Keith, thanks for sharing as well ? all the quirks that make us, us! I’m sure it gets annoying but you’ve got an eye for being awesome! ?
You’re such a beautiful inspiration. Thanks for sharing a piece of your story with us. I’m not yet ready to share my story but I certainly relate. I think all women do.