Stop Fat Talk.

How many times have you chosen not to wear a certain outfit because of how it'll make you look? How many layers do you have to wear to feel like the only thing people will see is your face? Have you ever opted not to go out because you were having a fat day? 

How often do you avoid looking at yourself in the mirror after you get out of the shower?

We seek the attention of others to disprove what we feel about ourselves. 

Girls chatter about how good that sweater looks, and then continues to say how she could never wear that because her muffin-tops would show. Men are told they're not allowed to be self conscious that it's feminine to feel like they're fat, so they turn to humor to cover up their emotions. Or they feel like to be a man you have to be over-sexualized and strive to be so muscular that you couldn't scratch your own back if you tried. 

In order to rise other people up we have to belittle ourselves. 

If something called you fat, or a pig, or chubby you would defend yourself and maybe even lash out at your accuser. You call yourself the same thing, so what's wrong? 

Stop identifying yourself with something that if said by another person, it's offensive.

Look at your body naked for one minute, then find something positive to say about it. Be comfortable in your own skin. Even if it starts small, gradually you'll start seeing more things that are beautiful.

You are the one person you have to live with everyday, no matter what. Loving yourself is a learning process. It starts with ending self-hate and fat talk.

Bringing in the New Year the right way.

Every year we come up with New Year's resolutions. Some want to lose weight, others want to save money or travel. The common factor is that we aim to do something that we felt was lacking in the years past. It's after the reflection of the previous 364 days that we see the type of person we were, and try to modify it according to who we want to be.

I encourage all of you not a New Years resolution, but a life one. Try to be apart of something that is bigger than yourself.

It doesn't have to be monetary. It could be reaching out to someone, letting them know you're thinking about them. It could be volunteering somewhere. You have this important life that has potential to make a significant impact.  Find something you care about and react to it.

The worst thing you can do is waste your love and talents when there's so much you can do to utilize them. Use whatever is in your hand to complete what is in your heart.

Each day is a new opportunity to exercise humility. Be thankful and when you're done with that be thankful some more. If you're reading this, you are already more fortunate than over a quarter of the world. Even if your bank account is empty and it seems like you're just climbing the mountains of your problems, be thankful.

We give this super power to the new year. It's a blank slate. A chance to write a new chapter.

Do not belittle this power. But instead of thinking about what you want to change about yourself, think about what you want to change about the world.