Love, Yourself (October Update)

For those just tuning in, last year I wrote letters to myself that will automatically post on my blog each month throughout the year. It's my way of keeping up with progress and showing myself the difference an entire year can really make. Instead of obsessing on the little things, I'm looking at the big picture.

Can you believe that I'm actually doing an update for Love, Yourself in the actual month that it's supposed to be posted in?! Amazing. So earlier this month the letter I'd written myself from October 2010 posted.

And here is the difference that one year can make.

Alright, I'll be the first to admit it. October of last year started out really rough. You had huge success in overcoming agoraphobia, but you let yourself get too sucked in and overwhelmed and you had a really bad relapse. You scared your husband. You stressed yourself out way too much. Calm the hell down and learn to take baby steps please.

Wow. You know what's crazy? The difference a year can make! My relapse last year was all about my agoraphobia, which is pretty much conquered now for the time being. I still have OCD, I still have depression and anxiety but in comparison to what it was like at this point last year, I'm just amazed at how totally blessed I am right now with the progress that I've made. If anyone who is reading this is currently suffering from any form of mental illness, please check out that relapse post above and please know that it can and does get better!

Your nephew Trey was born, and you were there. And it was amazing. Which reminds me, have you gotten the kid something for his birthday? Cause you always wait til the last minute. Also, your niece Leah shares Trey's birthday, so make sure to pick up something for her too. Be the good aunt.

We celebrated Trey's birthday a few weeks ago and I just love that kid to pieces. It's possible that my sister may be moving sometime in the near future, and I will miss them both tons. But with all the technology that's available I really should start using it to keep in touch with these kiddos.

This month you weighed 250 pounds, and you started exercising a little. It wasn't much but you were making huge strides. You started walking twice a week with Ashley. You even power walked a whole mile with her and then went two miles on an eliptical machine! Then you went to the gym by yourself! That was huge!
 

Guess what? It's been almost a year since I've seen that number! 250 is long gone. I weighed in last Wednesday over at Letters to Jia, and I'm down to 233! 17 pounds lost this year! 17 pounds I never have to look at again! I'm psyched. I am also looking forward to exercising again now that things are settling here after the move. 

October 2011

A little spunky