It all started with a walk with my friend recently.

I was getting dressed to head out and looked at all the nice workout clothing I’ve invested in, but have felt too embarrassed or lazy to wear, and found myself thinking, “There’s no reason to coordinate or match; it’s just a quick walk!” Or, “Save that for a day when you’ll actually see people.”

That day I chose to wear something I probably would have usually considered too fancy (it wasn’t—just a tank top and leggings), because I realized in that moment, I’d had it with waiting to allow myself to feel good.

That day, I prioritized the moment over any worry about what people would think about me.

And it felt good.

The Challenge on Instagram

So the next day, I talked about it on Instagram. I said how I’m sick of waiting for the “important days”—those ambiguous days in the future when I would be deserving of the nice outfit, or the time spent on makeup, or spritzing on the nice perfume. Always waiting for a reason to feel good.

As it turns out, a lot of us have been putting ourselves to the side over the past two years.

That’s natural, given that we’ve had to focus so much of our energy outward to take care of others. We’ve been worrying about our health. We’ve been stocking pantries; virtual schooling; meeting deadlines; working from home; figuring out how much to worry about each new strain of this virus; reorganizing our mental homes and our physical spaces… doing everything it takes to get through a pandemic.

So, we’ve seen a lot over the past two years. Enough to convince me that waiting is no longer the way to live my life. And it seems like you feel the same way, too.

So let’s flip the script. Today, this year, and hopefully for the rest of my life, let’s choose this moment to appreciate ourselves.

What do you think? You in?? 😉

I’m tentatively calling it the #BacktoYou challenge. And I’m hashtagging it only because I’d love to be able to keep up on social media with what you all are doing over the course of the year to find yourselves again.

The #BacktoYou Challenge

I don’t want to get too didactic with this. There are no rules to treating yourself well and living in the moment. But let’s talk about what it’s not:

A call to “dress up” every day.

Sure, you can do that if you want! But feeling good and put together is a suit and heels for one woman, and sweatpants for the next. It’s just about making an effort to get back to, or for the first time go to, a version of yourself that feels good. So the wardrobe is your call—the feeling is what matters!

An official check-in every day/week/month.

The goal here is to share our stories of coming back into ourselves organically, as they happen. So drop me an email and let me know about the new pair of jeans you picked up that make your butt look great; the lipstick that always makes you feel “done”; or the new workout that’s bringing you to a whole new level of energy. I’ll in turn share it right back, on social media and here!

A reason to go shopping.

Listen, mama loves a sale just as much as the next chick. But I bet there is a ton of stuff already in your closet or drawers that you love, but just haven’t gotten a chance to wear lately. Dig it out! Put it on! It’s time to feel good again.

Changing your body (if you don’t want to).

This challenge isn’t about changing anything about yourself. It’s about the beautiful, living, breathing, ever-evolving person you are right now, right at this moment. No need for improvements or “making better.” Today is the only day there is; let’s live it well.

The Back to You Challenge is Simple

It’s doing one thing a day that makes you feel more like yourself. That makes you feel like you treated yourself to something. A matcha latte from your favorite coffee store that you usually skip because you can make one at home. Burning your “company only” candle on a Tuesday night just because. Dressing up for school pickup because you love your new jeans.

It’s whatever you do daily—big or small—that helps you to remember this: That we get this one precious life. And that life can be stuffed with daily small joys, or reasons to put those joys off because society tells us it’s impolite not to.

But I don’t choose that anymore. And

Any time you do something that makes you feel a little badass, a little happy, a little like you’re living your best life, use the hashtag #backtoyouchallenge, and I’ll share it!

Enjoy your one perfectly imperfect, stressed, crazy, but damn-beautiful-anyway life, friends, starting today. And we’ll talk soon!

xoxo