Be True to You

June 14, 2012 By Leanne Vogel June 9, 2015

I can just about guarantee that when I get together with my Mom, she’s going to bring me a box of things from my childhood. From baby clothes to kindergarten crafts, I’ve seen it all. I don’t know where she gets all the stuff, it just keeps coming! I’ve never been much of a sentimental person, especially for things I haven’t seen in over 15 years, so about 99% of it goes in the trash. But there was one item in the last batch of childhood memories that caught my eye… My Grandma, on my Dad’s side, was quite the writer. In 2000, 8 years before she passed, she embarked on a 2 year project of self publishing a book about our family from 1630 onward. She’d asked everyone in the family to contribute stories, pictures and snippets from their lives to make the book a success. Over 60 of us wrote to her and expressed, in our own words, the world we had around us, and what was important to us. I was 13 years old when my Grandma invited me to write something for her book. I’d always dreamed of being a writer… and an actress, a gourmet chef, a professional dancer, a lawyer and a teacher ;), so writing my first article in something I knew was going to be read was a dream come true! I peeled open the pages to the book the other day, found my contribution, and read it aloud to Kevin, stopping along the way to suck back my tears. At 13, I had respect for myself, love for my body, and a wholesome approach to life and love. I was fearless, hopeful, and full of dreams. Reading my entry helped to affirm everything I know to be true to who I am, and reminded me of how important it is to hold on to that truth and live the life I was meant to live – to not be scared of the fact that I’m leaving my full time job in 47 days, to embrace change, to stay positive, and to take chances. Here’s a snippet from my entry,

I live my life with this motto in mind… You only have one life, be diligent. Work to achieve it all. You are the only one who can make you happy, so what are you waiting for?   Friends are a gift for your heart. They show you how to live, how to love, and how to improve yourself beyond your wildest dreams. Learn to make friends, stay true to them, love them, and everything they bring to your life. Stay open to the possibility that one person can change your heart and soul.   Your body is the best instrument you’ll ever have. Respect it. Learn to love what you’ve been given because it’s original, beautiful, free, and 100% yours, forever and always. Don’t be afraid. Trust it, live it, and be true to who you were born to be.

What would your 13 year old self say about the way you treat your body? What would she tell you is your most powerful asset? What would she be most proud of you for accomplishing?