When it Rains, it Pours...

...And sometimes the rain is just what the garden needed.

After taking a risk and sharing my reflection yesterday, I have received an overwhelming amount of messages with some of the most kind and humbling words I could ever imagine.

Some of the comments I received:

"I am so proud of you.  Proud of you for setting a goal and reaching it and proud of you for being vulnerable enough to share with all of us."

"Every word of that was amazing!!!"

"Even though I was only fortunate enough to know you for a short period of time, I sincerely hope you know that you really inspired me.  A lot."

"What an incredibly brave woman you are.  Thank you for being so generous with yourself.  I have certainly been enriched by reading your story."

"You are a great example of the pursuit of true health, something we should all be striving for."

"But please know that by sharing, you probably not only got a (figurative) weight off of your chest, but are showing other people that it's okay to not be perfect, and that there is nothing wrong with struggling."

And while I am so moved by these words of support from all of the wonderful people in my life, I am more amazed by what they have chosen to share back:

"'How does Briana know so much about me??!' I can't tell you how much your story aligns with my own.  Afraid?  Hell yes, I'm afraid."

"And just so you are aware and know us 'skinny kids' have all the same emotions and fears from being skinny!!"

"I know how hard it is because my constant companion, fear, is always by my side."

"I think lots of people, myself included, can relate whether it's weight or a different hang up."

"I myself finally accepted going to therapy about a year ago instead of fighting it which I did for years."

"I don't think there was really a particular day when I decided that I was 'too fat,' but sooner rather than later having a few extra pounds turned into not really being worth anything as a person."

As I spent a great deal of yesterday reading these amazing messages, I couldn't help but think about how much we are all experiencing similar things as we sit in silence juggling the world around us.  And I began to wonder how something as seemingly small as 1900 words of honesty could make a difference in the world around me.  So, again, I felt it was time to share some of the love and returned honesty I was feeling, because now was not the time to be selfish.  Now is the time to continue the momentum.  So today I leave you all with the following encouragement:

Take a moment.  Reach out to someone.  You don't have to open yourself up to the world, but open yourself up to someone.  Be honest with what you are feeling.  Be vulnerable.  See what you get in return.  You might be amazed that it is just the push you needed to make it over the next hurdle.  And maybe the next time it rains, you'll ditch the umbrella and dance in the puddles instead.

Rain in California

What is it about rain in Southern California that makes students run out of their buildings, dancing and shouting? Yesterday, the skies opened for approximately seven solid minutes of actual rain drops, and immediately, four students from two different apartments shot outside as if gold was falling from above. It's actually an incredible sight to watch such a genuine reaction of joy to something that in other parts of the country is so common place...even dreaded. It was a moment that you realize that everything truly is relative.