Thankful Thursday: Tishia Lee

Guess what today is! No, not hump day, much better than that. It’s Thankful Thursday!

So, let’s start this post off with something I’m thankful for and not a bit sorry about. I started this little series with the full intention of posting every Thursday. Hubby and I went fishing last week for his bday and I barely checked emails, let alone wrote anything.

I am happy to report, we had a great time and I made new friends. I’m also happy to report I have zero guilt for not writing last week’s post because being present was more necessary. It makes me happy that it doesn’t cause me guilt. Always growing right?

Now who is my Thankful Thursday post about this week? I’ve been friends with this gal for over a decade, but she’s REALLY touched my life in the last 12 months. I’ve told her so, but I’m going to share her Shining Self with more of you 😉

I’m fat. Yup, I said it. Tishia says it’s ok because it’s true.

I’ve battled with shame about it for a long time. I was an athlete. Not just an athlete, but a total jock. I had a full ride for volleyball I turned down. I went on to get my personal training degree. I trained people to get out of the place I’m in. I know every bit of the damage I’m doing to my body right now.

Yet, I’m my largest ever and surely my most out of shape ever.

And I’m dealing with it better each month, thanks to my friend Tishia.

She coaches women that are hurting, especially on the topics of recovery and body positivity. We had a great interview together in my Bold Life Collection about her journey of bodypositivity that has led her to be a runway model! DUDE, for real. That’s some serious confidence. If she can do that then I can get over my worry of my double chins on camera and get my ass on stage too.

Yes, the big things she does are awesome and motivating, but it’s when she’s just talking and tells her truth that I get my magic from her. She doesn’t even realize how much she helps as she’s talking and just being Tishia. She isn’t consciously coaching, to her she’s just sharing. Sharing is one of her superpowers and you can connect right away

I’ve stopped putting clothes back while shopping because meh, I probably shouldn’t wear that as an over 40, overweight woman. Tishia’s voice is in my ear saying “F that, it’s cute. You like it, get it.” When I’m trying clothes on and close to tears her voice will be in my head reminding me that people love me and it has nothing to do with my size and everything to do with me.

Now the clothes do NOT make the woman, but when I’m dressing like crap I feel like crap. When I give up on finding and buying clothes I like then I start beating myself up. So I buy the clothes and I rock the clothes, cute as hell.

I’m excited that we get to hang out at more events together, even though we both fly across the country to them. We may be roomies in Atlanta here in a couple of weeks at Exposure and Profit and we are working on causing trouble for many hours and try to travel to Daytona Beach together next May for Beach Camp.

As of a year ago we live 3ish hours apart, I have to make more happen locally to be with her in person. We’ve chatted about some fun things we’d like to do in our area and now it’s just a matter of finding the right time to make them happen.

I adore her big personality and her honesty. She inspires me to talk better to myself and work at being ok that this is how my body is right now and that’s not a reason to limit anything I do.

You can be inspired by my friend Tishia and read much more about her story on her site Shining Self.

Live boldly,