Turning 40 and How I #OwnIt

At the end of this week I will be 40 years old!

40.

I, Natalie Bell, am going to be 40 on Friday October 30, 2015. Wow what a milestone…

Since the beginning of the month, I have been reflecting on my life and what I have accomplished in the past 40 years.

It’s also an exciting time because I’ve done more than I ever thought I would and there’s still so much more to come from Natalie Bell. However, all of this awesomeness I’m experiencing didn’t come without some major challenges.

Through it at all, with everything I’ve done, I pretty much look the same! To me that’s an accomplishment in itself.  I’ve had three children over the past 17 years, gone through a divorce, the death of my mother, anxiety issues etc and I think I still look pretty darn good considering!

Who do I look great to? Who have I been trying to look awesome for? That is the question.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAVFCH9x7Og

The new Kellogg’s Special K mantra #OwnIt celebrates women by encouraging them to ditch their doubt and focus on what they can actually change versus getting hung up on the things they can’t.

See, society tells us that we need to look slim to be considered beautiful and not embrace our bodies, especially after having children. Heaven forbid we should have stretchy skin and blemishes. Last time I checked we are human beings not clones of someone’s idea of perfection.

I am at a point now where I am in love with me, I’m in love with what this body looks like, who she is and who she’s become! It took a long time to get to this point.

I’m also proud of my battle scars, aka zebra belly, aka stretch marks. I have been blessed to be a mother to 3 gorgeous and healthy children.

I didn’t always think this way. I thought about my butt not looking big enough, my sagging breasts after breastfeeding, my severe diastasis recti that can only be fixed with plastic surgery (say goodbye to midriff shirts and bikinis). The cellulite on my legs. The hyper-pigmentation and acne scars on my face. I could go on.

Sure, those are all things I need to work on because I want to, not because anyone makes me feel I need to. I work on it when I feel like it and don’t feel any less “Natalie” when I don’t.

It can be a hard road but I will continue to travel it because it’s by me, for me.

I am owning my body image every day even more so now that I’m celebrating another birthday! I only worry about my own personal standard no one else’s.

It’s about MY lifestyle and MY wellness because it’s MY body.

Being physically active, eating well, surrounding yourself with supportive loving people? Are you doing these things and then some? If so, stand proud and#OwnIt! Don’t try to be someone you are not. We all have different body types – embrace who you are – gosh knows I am!

Who’s with me?!?

Ok, ok, I’m calming down now hahaha! Whew! I just get so pumped up and motivated to share and engage with all of you about these things!

Keep in mind any personal lifestyle changes you have made or are making and get ready to share because there will be a fabulous giveaway opportunity right here on PegCityLovely in the next week as we all continue to #OwnIt!

Stay tuned folks and keep being awesome!

Natalie

**Disclosure: This post is generously supported by Kellogg’s Special K; however, the opinions stated and for sure the photos are mine, all mine.**