Mirror your truth!
One of the biggest reasons I love my job is the amazing people I work with and the opportunity to build relationships with them. Their trust in me as their dietitian is that I not only talk the talk, but walk the walk. Many times the statements I have echoed to clients have come back to gnaw in my ear. Humble pie can be a hard slice to swallow. If I am going to be authentic to these incredible yet vulnerable people I MUST do the same. It’s time we look in the mirror and see our true selves!
I have always prided myself on how resilient and tough I thought I was. However if I speak honestly these two traits are not what they used to be. As a collegiate athlete I had the energy of a three-year-old on a Halloween candy high. And a pain threshold so high that I was up hours after having an emergency c-section. I was determined to be with my baby even if my legs were like wet noodles. Now I find myself scheduling power naps in so I can function at the end of the day. The slightest possibility of a cold has me trading in my chardonnay for Emergen-c cocktails. Who has time to be sick? Again, looking in the mirror to see the irony.
Let’s talk Motherhood
The biggest test of all is now my role as a mother. As independent as we believe these little humans to be they are also absorbing everything. As a mother of a young daughter it breaks my heart the societal messages she will grow up with.
This made think of remarks I have made or heard other’s say that have fallen upon small, impressionable ears.
- When we get ready in the morning are we mirroring a woman that is confident in herself. Not based on how her outfit looks but at what she is getting ready to tackle that day?
- As you step on the scale are you giving the impression that the little “hunk” of metal is a grade of who you are?
- When you are on your “diet” are you giving the impression that you are not enough and need change?
- We tell them to go outside and run around to get their out their energy. What do you think they associate when you say “I have to go run to burn off this ice cream”?
- Do we walk proudly as we are responsible for bringing this amazing person into the world? Or do we crawl into a shell so we may not see the amazing blessings?
Slow Down and Allow Grace
I often wonder if God has put a timeline on these traits that I once admired. Making myself more aware of pain so that I actually pay attention to what is hurting me? If I could mirror anything to my daughter, my friends, my clients, the world it is that we need no explanations for who we are. Take me as I am and allow for grace as I am guaranteed to make some mistakes!
“Though she be but little, she is fierce!” William Shakespeare