Back in August I went away for a 40th birthday weekend with my best friend and I put this dress on and went to dinner. We had a great night. I was 30 pounds heavier then. And I was happy. I felt a light inside.
I got home from that trip and I wrote a blog post about wearing this dress. That post went viral and opened the door to what I now consider to be my burgeoning career. And I didn’t look or feel the way I do in this same dress today.
In August, I was struggling to believe I was beautiful. I wanted to say that if I could wear the dress the way I felt in it, if I could believe I was beautiful, then anyone could. My message of positivity was shared by thousands of people. My light was shining.
Then, specifics aside, in October I learned that I was living in a lie and didn’t know it. For a long time. And things that no woman should ever have to hear were said to me, by someone I loved. So much.
I heard things that I’ll never be able to un-hear. Things that made me realize why I was struggling to believe I was beautiful in the first place. Things that made me realize why I was having a hard time loving myself. Things I’m left with now to rattle around inside my brain. But there’s still a brightness.
I look the way I do in the dress now because of a broken heart. And that’s okay. I mean, I choose to believe that it’s going to be okay. As hurt as I am, I still have happiness. My mind and body and heart are healing. And I’m thankful for that.
NOW I KNOW that it’s never been about my body anyway. I don’t think the first post was about my body and I don’t think that this post is about my body.
I think it’s all been about spirit. It’s all been about strength and self-love and the struggle to save myself. From myself and from others. From outside forces. To preserve that little flicker of light that I’ve never let go out. A constant promise that’s always lived in me to stay bright inside to survive. As bad as things have gotten in my life and as hard as things may get for me, I know that the dark is no place for me to live. And I will keep this light on to lead me out.
The Mother Octopus 
You go, girl. 🙂
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It’s just a dress and just a body, though the feelings are so powerful, and putting them to words is so brave! To find hope & healing & strength inside & to share that with others is commendable. ✌🏼💕
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Shoot. That comment wasn’t meant to minimize your feelings about your body (or feelings the dress triggers) in any way. I’m trying to view my body positively for all of the things it’s done for me, yet also realize that it’s really just a shell & the most important stuff is inside (so I can learn to truly love myself +\- 30 lbs). And I understand that a good hair day, or a dress or whatever, can be powerful in helping me to feel confident, sexy, and even happy. I’m just practing to not rely on those things, so that the days that they don’t do it for me, or the days those external items create negative feelings, I can move on & feel happy with myself from the inside out.
I read both your previous & current post & appreciated your thoughts, and am glad you’re sharing your experiences!
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Not at all!! Thank you for your thoughts! xoxo
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Awesome insight, Katey. Please put on facebook.❤️
Sent from my iPad
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You are rocking this world and that dress and your spirit shines brighter every single day! you are so loved by so many…too many to ever count in a lifetime!
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The things we get told to our faces that hurt can never be un-heard. I had an experience of hearing hurtful things in 2017, too. Fortunately, I wasn’t living with the person who hurt me. I feel better now though, sometimes, such as at 2 AM when I wake up for no particular reason, I sometimes think of those words. I am glad I know some relaxation techniques and how to pray like some folks count sheep.
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