Did anyone happen to see this article in the Wall Street Journal this week?
Reading it actually disturbed me a bit—or made me laugh out loud, one of the two (Seriously, this is news?).
In a culture that is already hyper-focused on women’s bodies and society’s standards of what is ‘beautiful’ and ‘not’—this article takes things a step forward: essentially bashing women’s bodies for being strong, and healthy.
Whether you CrossFit or not—that is beside the point.
Where this article seems to miss the mark is the empowering evolution that has happened, for many women, in being able to give up an unhealthy relationship with a mirror, a scale, the cover of a magazine or clothing size, in lieu of embracing their bodies—curves and all the amazing things it can do.
CrossFit is just one medium in which many women have done just that. Others may come to terms with a healthier relationship with their bodies in their own ways—from increased body image awareness (think the “Dove: Love Your Body” campaigns, to finding something you are passionate about—and devoting more time and energy to that, rather than beating up your body for being X-Y-Z).
I’ve personally heard the claims that the Wall Street Journal makes, not only once, but a million times before from those who may not yet understand, or comprehend, this relationship with your body that is no longer based on what it looks like, but what it can do, and how you feel (ie. More energetic, strong, healthier, no longer ‘starving’ or thinking about food all the time because you are focused on perfection).
This is not a case for CrossFIt, or not, either.
This is a case, or a challenge rather, to challenge the notion of what you: “should be” or “not be”—and instead, to just be. Do what you love, love what you do.
I highly doubt if a woman, in this article, did not enjoy doing CrossFit for instance, she would stop doing it. Right?
However, the women in this article seem to still have a greater perspective on embracing the skin they are in because they have come to terms with finding beauty in their strength—from the inside out. (Heck, the girl who ‘lost it’ after weighing herself did not go starve herself; she instead, threw out her scale).
You are more than a number. More than the size of your jeans. More than thighs that maybe touch, or how your shoulders look in a tank top.
Find what moves you—and do that.
On a side note, I am BUSTING at the seams!
A dream is finally coming true—and it’s something I’ve wanted from the time I was 8 or 9-years-old: I am launching my own women’s magazine.
Reflecting back on the days I used to flip through the pages of Seventeen Magazine, American Girl, Girl’s Life, and later, magazines like, Women’s Health, Oxygen and Self, something I envisioned doing was, one day, starting and writing for a women’s-based publication.
If you don’t know me already, I love writing—always have, and I am a writer by first trade and profession. As a Journalism major in college, I envisioned being the ‘next Katie Couric’ on NBC’s Today Show or the Editor-in-Chief at Seventeen. I published my article when I was 14-years-old during a summer internship at a local city magazine, Little Rock Monthly (an article on “The Best BBQ in Town”), and from there, I was bit my the “journalist-bug.”
Through my struggles with an eating disorder, I developed an unhealthy relationship with magazines—I read them like my bible: soaking up as many nutrition, fitness, weight loss and image-focused advice that I could. I yearned to be a cover model, like the girls on Oxygen or Women’s Health, and pushed my body to unhealthy limits in order to do so.
Later, in my recovery, writing was still a passion of mine, and something I envisioned as I got ‘better’ was the creation of a women’s-only publication that was completely different than what is currently out there on the newsstands (you know, different cover model and monthly issue, but same old stories on ‘Losing 5 lbs. This Month’ to ‘Saying Goodbye to Cellulite for Good’ to ‘Fitting in Your Skinny Jeans’ to the ‘Top 20 Best Snacks Under 100 Calories’, etc.).
Low and behold…the opportunity to do so has presented itself.
My amazing editors from Box Life Magazine—a publication I’ve written for over the past 3 or 4 years—called me up a couple weeks ago, saying, “Lauryn, we are ready—ready to launch a women’s magazine that you suggested about a year ago…are YOU ready?”
Heck yes!!
In T-minus a few weeks, Box Life Women is set to launch—something I envision, eventually, being a revolutionary health, fitness and beauty magazine on the market—something unparalleled currently by other health, fitness and beauty magazines that seem, more or less, a dime a dozen.
This project of mine goes HAND-IN-HAND with what THRIVE is all about: Doing the things in life you were made to do, and living a life of passion.
Girl, do what you love, love what you do!
And, if writing is one of the things you like to do—or could see yourself doing—let me know!
I am currently looking for some passionate women who have something to say, an article to contribute, or an idea for a topic that they would like to read about if they were to pick up any health, fitness or beauty magazine. You don’t have to be a ‘professional writer’—just a woman who has something to say and would like to share that message with others.
My e-mail is [email protected]
Boom.