WELLNESS

We tend to love ourselves from the outside in, using exterior forces such as weight, success and praise to determine our capacity for worthiness. We ask arbitrary questions like, “Did I avoid cookies today?” ” How much have I accomplished from my to-do list?” “Do you think he will ask me out again?” as gauges for self-love. These random means of measuring undoubtly shift and dare I say, fall short which keeps us asking, “Do I really deserve to love myself?”

When your alarm goes off in the morning, do you snooze or do you wake immediately? Or perhaps a more appropriate question… HOW MANY TIMES do you hit the snooze button? Truth.

Growing up, I was harboring a dark secret. Well, I felt like it was dark at the time… this was how society made me feel. Growing up as a gay teen in America was a nightmare to say the least.

I am sitting at the gate, about to board my flight to Arizona. If you recall earlier this year, I was thrilled to announce my alliance with Dove® as their ambassador for the “Nourish Your Mind, Body and Soul Campaign.” In honor of this campaign, I am now off to Canyon Ranch Resort in Arizona to do just that… Nourish My Soul.

These 4 days will be a mix of yoga, meditation, health and wellness activities, workshops, hikes through the canyon, and spa treatments. I can feel my body already begin to relax as I sit here in my seat. These last few weeks have been honestly, overwhelming. I’m tired. If you’re a working mom, you can attest to the speed in which we move.

The plane has landed. I guess I deserve it. I did, after all, write a blog post called ‘Born Skinny.’ My metabolism… the metabolism that has been overly kind to me for 37 years, has officially retired. I think due to overwork. I have joined the rest of humanity- ass fallen, boobs headed south, beautiful cellulite, and finally the inability to eat whatever I want (that’s the worst part of all). Ahh, the wonderful world of aging. It was great while it lasted. Now I actually have to really do something called, *GASP*… WORK.

It’s hard to understate the importance of exercise. By getting physical activity we can strengthen our immune response and our cardiovascular system, buffering our bodies against heart disease and other ailments. We can lose weight and feel younger. We can reduce stress and battle depression. No matter what we specifically choose to do – whether it’s running, swimming, tennis, or yoga – there’s truly no substitute for a lifestyle that promotes exercise and activity.

I don’t even know where to begin. I am still on a high after a magnificent weekend with my mom in Toronto attending Oprah’s Lifeclass Tour. So many of you have tweeted me and Facebooked me asking for all the juicy details. So today will be a mixed bowl of those details, life lessons, and what I learned.

Hold on tight, and come along with me on a ride of fun and learning…

It was Sunday. My husband was leaving on a business trip, and I was leaving for Toronto. We kissed our two boys goodbye, and headed to the airport for our respective flights.

Today is April Fool’s Day, so Happy April Fool’s to you! Today is also my father’s 65th birthday. On this joke of a day, it’s no joke that I am who I am, in large part because of him.

I posted about my dad once before on Father’s Day. But today, I’m reposting that post for my new readers.

For those readers who actually know my dad, know he’s a man you instantly fall in love with. He is a man of his word, a man with a kind spirit, and a true inspiration to me. This is not to sound cocky, but there is nowhere that I don’t go, where I don’t hear, “You’re so-and-so’s daughter? Your dad is such a great guy, ” or “I love him. What a warm and genuine person.” Lucky me.