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Today on the blog we're sharing an exclusive excerpt from @girlswithsole founder Liz Ferro's new book "Finish Line Feeling". This uplifting memoir tells the story of the author’s journey from foster child and sexual abuse survivor to founder of the nationally recognized running organization, Girls With Sole. With brutal honesty, Liz Ferro writes about her own experiences of trauma, and how running, biking, and swimming pulled her through the toughest times imaginable, always reminding her of her own strength and worth. Her story proves that with resiliency, anyone can be rewarded with the euphoria she calls the “finish line feeling.” "Rejection is never a good feeling, but the sting is lessened when it is experienced on your own terms. I didn’t know it at the time, but that was the beginning of a cycle that would continue on in my life for many years to come. This would be my approach and “M.O.” for the majority of my future relationships: Leave them -before they leave me. In many different ways, and on many different levels, my life has revolved around running. “For a time all I could do was try to run away. Then I ran into trouble. As time passed, with endurance and tenacity, I ran with the idea of helping girls in need and haven’t stopped since. “In August of 2009 I founded the nonprofit organization, Girls With Sole, that uses free fitness and wellness programs to empower at-risk girls and those who have experienced any type of abuse. Turning a negative into a positive, I have made it my life’s mission to instill strength, self-confidence and pride in girls, and to help them embrace running -for all the right reasons." Read the full excerpt and get a copy of "Finish Line Feeling" by clicking the link in our bio! 🏃🏼‍♀️ . . . #Girlswithsole #trauma #girls #fostercare #survivor #sexualabuse #running #lizferro #empower #inspire #fitness #strength #power #instagood #value #selfworth #love

In 2017, author and photographer @nancyfarese visited Bangladesh to photograph the Rohingya refugee crisis, which forced over one million people into temporary camps as they fled the genocide in Myanmar. As she documented the toll of extreme trauma and the most violent tendencies of humankind, she was drawn to the irrepressible laughter of children as they fashioned sticks and rocks into toy cars and turned plastic bags into kites. Captivated by the joy, resilience, and creativity she witnessed, she turned her camera on children at play, capturing their natural instincts to adapt, heal, and thrive despite the darker forces surrounding them. ‘Potential Space: A Serious Look at Child’s Play’ is her new photography book which brings together over ninety of Farese’s stunning, full-color images of children engaged in play that she took over 7 years in 14 countries, including Burkina Faso, Cuba, Haiti, Jordan, and the U.S.A. Nancy’s photos of children at play beg the question: Where does play sit in our own lives, and how do we ensure that children, everywhere, are allowed to play their way into a healthy adulthood, and a more just world? Here's what she told us: "On a global level, The Right To Play is a guaranteed Human Right of the United Nations, but on a personal level I hope these images remind us of our common humanity, and a fundamental tool of well being and resilience that we all possess to address stress and uncertainty in our world today...In a perfect world, parents will say to their kids- you can’t do your homework till you’ve gone out to play!" See more of her stunning photos and read our full interview via the link in our bio. 📸 #play #children #space #happy #joy #photography #potentialspace #humanrights #nancyrichardsfarese #image #global #humanity #instagood All images courtesy of Nancy Richards Farese and @mweditions.

Today on the blog we have a powerful guest post from Eden Robinson, aka @fangirlfit. She is a body-positive feminist, personal trainer and the co-producer of @queerfitnesspod. She started her business, Fangirl Fitness, to help others feel strong and empowered in their bodies, and dismantle toxic shame around body image messages aimed at women, something which she has personally experienced in her life as a queer woman. "Toxic shame is shame that is directed at a core element of who we are (our race, gender(s), sexual orientation, body, passions, joys, etc). It paralyzes us, trapping us in spirals of self-doubt and self-loathing. Instead of showing us our mistakes, toxic shame convinces us that we ARE the mistake. It convinces us that self-erasure is the only solution," she writes. Her sexuality and femininity were often called into question, and it made her feel so much shame because of who she was. "Growing up, I felt deeply ashamed of both my queerness and my femininity. I was a young lesbian in a small and traditional religious community. At the same time, I was grappling with the many contradictory expectations our culture has for women and girls. Have enough girly interests to be feminine, but not so much that you’re superficial. Be smart, but no one likes a know-it-all," she writes. Fitness became a way for her to tackle the shame, and in turn help others. "I started working in the fitness industry because I recognized how much my workouts were helping me connect and heal internally. I want my career to be helping others experience that shift too. Internalized objectification and shame are both things I’m still unlearning, but reconnecting with my body through movement has been a huge part of that healing journey. I named my brand “Fangirl Fitness” because being a “fangirl” is about unapologetically loving something or someone. And we deserve to apply that same energy to ourselves." Read the rest of Eden's piece by clicking the link in our bio! 💪🏾 . . . #shame #healing #fitness #queer #toxic #bodypositive #feminine #bodyimage #empowered #women #instagood

It has been a long 2 years of enduring a global pandemic that has upended almost every aspect of our lives, As we continue to adapt to numerous changes due to COVID, we’re also staring down 2022, and it’s approaching fast. The new year is often a time for new beginnings, and if you’re wanting to make a fresh start just like us, thankfully there are a number of things within our control that can help us ease into January with a positive outlook. Our friends at Proflowers have put together a cute flower-power infused infographic to help layout some ways to start fresh in 2022. Here are 3 of our faves: 🌺 Reflect on Growth: Grab a journal and reflect on the past year - the good, the bad, the ugly. How can you aim to grow more in 2022? 🌸Weed out Negative Thoughts: Practice meditation to clear your mind and eliminate any negativity. As mental health has become more important than ever during the pandemic, being intentional and mindful about what we focus on can be a great way to evade negative thoughts. 🌼Set New Goals, Reach New Heights: Challenge yourself and set monthly goals like daily exercise or budgeting. While it's important to have the big-picture goals in mind or mapped out, personal growth means being intentional about what we focus on daily. Head to the link in our bio to see more tips on starting fresh! . . . #startover #freshstart #newyear #newgoals #holidays #mindset #mindfulness #WCW #positivity #meditation #growth #instagood #best