Megan Clifford LCSWR

I’m walking 60 minutes in the morning on a pre planned route. It’s to be in touch with my value of health and wellness as well accepting my body. It I lose weight so be it but my health is my “why”

Posted • I’ve been going through a lot of photos, old journals, and scrapbooks while I’m writing my book. I found a New Year’s resolution from when I was 15, written on a small neon sticky note. It said: “stay no heavier than 115”. My heart sank for my younger self and the girl who used that number as a benchmark all the way until I came out at almost 30. A number that defined my value. A number that would let me know I “lost the baby weight”. A number that was enough for people to see me as “skinny” but not enough that they would worry I was *sick* (again). A number that told me how much space I was allowed to take up, how much I was worth, and how lovable I could be.
And guess what- none of it brought me happiness and more so none of brought me peace. I stepped on a scale for the first time in five years in 2022 when I finally got a new doctor. And the number was not even close to anything I’ve personally ever weighed before. And I did not panic, I did not make a plan in my head of how to change it, I saw it and it was just a number that did not mean anything about who I am- except that I am healthy and happy and at home in myself. I hope you throw away your scales and start things that are beautiful this year. I hope you say no to self-hate and yes to freedom. I hope you fall in love with who you are right now and buy the next size jeans, and stop skipping ice cream when you really want ice cream. I hope you move your body in ways that feel good and healthy and have nothing to do with someone else’s standards of what you should be or look like. And if you forget how special you are, I hope you remember you can begin again. Write it on your mirror, you are enough. I love you. xo

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing conducted a survey to research to assess access to mental health services for U.S. adults. The findings have highlighted severe barriers to access and lack of proper care for the needs of Americans in need. In numbers:
🔹42% of those who needed care could not get it because of costs and other barriers
🔹~25% of adults reported needing help for substance abuse
🔹37% of respondents reported that expenses prevented them from getting care
🔹28% of respondents could not find a nearby care provider
🔹50% reported relationship issues, 45% work issues, and 44% noted a decline in mental well-being as result of a lack of care

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing's CEO Chuck Ingoglia hopes that Congress will address the issues and expand their programs to increase accessibility to necessary care.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3SV28HJ

So true