I usually run from conflict. I hate it.  Conflict gives me hives. It’s a part of life however, and you can’t always run from it.  Sometimes friends have a difference of opinion that they are both equally passionate about, but that doesn’t mean you love them any less.

I’m struggling how to write this post, because I do respect other’s beliefs and opinions.  I have very concrete beliefs and opinions myself.  But I do hope you all know that this blog is not about forcing my opinions onto others.  This blog is just a collections of insights and life lessons I’ve learned over the past 7 years as I worked to lose the weight and to keep it off.  This blog is not a platform for my faith.  I respect that we all have our own belief systems.

Having said that, I want you to know that I choose to Live and Let Live.

I don’t care who you love, what you look like, or what faith you are.  I accept my friends just the way they are and I won’t attempt to change your beliefs which are as sacred to you as my beliefs are to me.  That’s not to say I don’t have conversations about a difference of beliefs with my friends, but it usually evolves organically with a mutual respect for where the other is coming from.

This blog is about Reclaiming MY Life.  My intention with sharing these insights has always been to encourage and uplift others who may have similar struggles as I do.  I have chosen to show  not only the positive side of my life, but also some of the struggles and trials of my life as well.

Now, let me tell you it’s not easy to show vulnerability and sometimes it kinda feels like I forgot to put pants on in the morning and I only realized it while standing in the mirror department of Wal-Mart.  But, the reason I show that side is I don’t want you to think that my life is full of roses and sunshine since I lost the weight.  It’s not.  I’ve also experienced times in my life when I looked at another  woman and thought: what’s wrong with me, how is she so put together and I’m not!?

When I was at my heaviest I used to think “if only I could be thin, THEN I would be happy.”  Guess what, when I lost the weight I learned that although some of my struggles may have changed, I still had (and still have) a lot to deal with.

I realized that I put on the weight not just because I liked food, but also for protection as well.  I liked feeling invisible for many different reasons.  I didn’t voice my opinions, I chose to stay silent and didn’t really get to know others all that well.

I had to relearn what it is to share, to open up, to be vulnerable, to show my weakness, and my insecurities.  I am flawed, but I am not broken.  We are all flawed and imperfect.  That is what it is to be human.

The greatest blessing I have felt since sharing however, is it has given those that know me (and some that don’t know me…which is awesome) permission to do the same, because they know they are safe to do so.

So my opinion is to Live and Let Live.  You may not share the same outlook on life, and that’s absolutely your right.  But, since this is my blog, and I chose what I write about…I will say it once more…

Live and Let Live.

From my heart to yours,

Christine