Wordless Wednesday.

by

Meh, you know me.

G-d forbid this overly verbose woman actually sticks to the WORDLESS, huh?

A friend recently sent me this picture.

It’s a youngyoung misfit—I think 16 years ago?—a few months after discovering my love of the weights & many, many months after uncovering my passion for fitness.

I look at this photo and see youth, sure, but I also see all Ive yet to experience, endure & learn.

All the numerous lifecrapthings (technical term) which have aged me and made me.

So many people look backwards at life and wish they could return to an earlier place/time.

This surprise in my in-box served as a reminder of how much I love where I am today.

How Id not trade any of this for the young, taut, naive, backcountry camping with a boyfriend Id never marry world.


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Comments

  1. It is amazing what we see when we look back at photos.
    I tend toward wishing I were back there.

  6. Time may have past… but I still see that youth in yestereday’s picture in the tank that is in this picture taken 16 years ago!

  7. There are things that I miss, but no way do I look back. This now is the good stuff. This is what I was meant to do and who I was meant to be and I’m just now finding that out.

    Great photo and you haven’t aged a bit! Still fabulous.

  11. The younger, fitter body, I might consider going back to, maybe. The more naive and inexperienced mind/heart/soul/spirit? No.

    • and I know it’s so trite these days but as long as I’m HERE I will take that mind/heart/soul/spirit over all else.

  12. VERY NEAT!

    When I clicked here there was an image above of you in the same post from years later.

    Thanks for the visual reminder of the fact older can be better.

    Mere

  13. Wow…. who knew this would ever see the light of day! I think the part of the pic that makes me laugh the most is that you could have fit two of you in that hand sewn fleece tank! Good times, good times… 🙂

    • For some reason I’m remembering it as the aforementioned boyfriend MADE the tank top for me….

  16. I agree: there’s nothing quite like the present. I have had some wonderful times in the past, but I have no desire to be in the past again. I’m loving life right now too much. It just keeps getting better and better as we experience more things in life.

  20. Looking back has been the reason why I have binged and kept the weight on for two years. I wanted to be XXX lbs again. BUT I would NEVER want to be that person again. It has only been in recent weeks that I can look at photos of my ‘thin’ self and never want to be like that again. in fact, yes I am writing this, I’d rather be at my 30lbs heavier in who I am..then to be that girl I was.

  22. Great pic and words of wisdom … on a Wordless Wednesday. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

    Winks & Smiles,
    Wifey

  23. I just love you!

    And yeah, I echo what Michelle said. The weight that I regained (and am finally now losing) was an unimaginable gift.

    There is nothing more powerful than accepting, nay, EMBRACING right now and looking lovingly (but not longingly) at the past.

  24. Nope. Do not want to do that. Go back. I’m much happier and connected NOW. There is no way I’m giving THAT up.

    Besides if I were to keep my heart/soul/mind and go back to that body I had before, it wouldn’t work. So much of my identity/body image is wrapped up in accepting this scar, those stains, that pain.

    I’m happy like I am.

  26. I rather be where I’m at with my matured, wisdom of a brain opposed to being way back when with my hawt younger body, yet no brains at all (ya, I had barely a contents in my cranium). But that shirt. Do you still have it? I’d like to borrows.

  27. I had to think hard to remember what I was doing and who I was 16 years ago. Two young sons, still working part-time, never lifted a weight yet, maybe had just started walking. Probably thinner:( But now I am certainly fitter:) And life is easier with my boys that much older.

  32. Wow, Miz, you’re right. I do sometimes ‘wish’ for physical youth, for less aches and pains, less wrinkles, you know…. but you’re right, I would never trade in all I’ve learned, where I’ve been, and where/who I am now. Thank you. I shall continue to be thankful all day today for who I am TODAY.

  35. That shirt is, how did they put it, rad? You’re right, we here it everyday but so true, the person back then brought us to now and I won’t change now, so I guess back then will have to do too.

  36. You are so inspiring Miz. I love your attitude. The scenery behind you in that photo is beautiful. I think that photo foreshadowed the future, hinted at the superhero you are TODAY.

  37. LOVE THIS! (Holy guns!)

    It’s funny. I am happy where I am today to. I’ve learned so much and come so far yet I strive to “be” that person in my memories and old photographs. . .

  38. Am giggling over Helen’s comment still. Love you, no matter what age you are and am so happy that you are so happy with where you are and who you are now!

  39. I love it! My theory is ‘no regrets, but you don’t have to repeat things if you don’t want’. Where I am isn’t perfect (but then again, that isn’t my goal), but I enjoy it all the more for that fact. Whatever lifecrapthings are going on, are just shaping who I’ll be in the future. 🙂

  40. Even at the ripe old age of 28 I’ve had thoughts of “Man it was easier when I was younger,” or “remember when we could just pick up and go without a worry in the world?”

    Whenever I catch myself thinking like that I just picture this and this and this and I’m quickly reminded that I wouldn’t change it for a second.

    Life is good TODAY!

  41. I used to think back and really wonder what if during certain big “junction points” in my life. What if I never quit gymnastics and went to compete in college? What if I took the college scholarship for diving in LV? What if I never called Zliten back that day and asked if he wanted to have coffee? What if we didn’t find a place to live in San Diego and ended up moving to Colorado Springs? What if Australia or Vancouver had offered me a job instead of Austin?

    Some were absolutely the best decision, some could have lead to crazy awesomeness – but I have made peace with the fact now that I made the best decision I could have at the time with the circumstances in front of me, and it lead me to where I am today, which is utterly thrilled and in love with who I am today. So there is a lot less wistfulness there then there used to be…

  42. That would be aforementioned X Boyfriend thank you very much! 🙂 Keep up the words of wisdom… always an inspiration

    BTW…. you look pretty good in that pic considering we had not showered in days! Not sure we smelled very good but you looked fresh as a daisy.

  45. I’m with you. I’ve grown too much, learned too much, struggled too much, and paid too many dues, to wanna go backward.

  47. I so agree!

    I think the older you get, the more comfortable you are with yourself. At least that’s my experience. Sure, I’d love to be a size 0 again while pounding away buffalo wings and coke, but where’s the “life juice” in that? 30-something, married and three kids later- I’m much happier than I ever was at 16. 🙂

  49. Lookin’ adorable, Miz! (Then *and* now!)

    Maybe it’s a 40something thing, but I am so much more content now than I was back then. I think the only regret I have was that I did not maintain my physical health better and that it took so long to discover my inner athlete. But better late than never, I suppose.

  53. Thank you so much for this simple, to the point, and very powerful post. It really hit home!

  54. I love it! Great picture and pecks so long ago!

    I agree 100%, today is much better than the past for me!!! I’d never go back!

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