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So here’s the thing… I would love to look like I did a few years ago. Back then, I was at what I considered my “perfect weight.” I mean, let’s be honest—I looked damn good, and I knew it. But here’s the flip side of that coin: I also wasn’t eating the foods I love whenever I wanted, and that just ain’t living.

Let’s just get this out there: I do NOT like exercise. Never have. I’ll kayak. I’ll hike. I’ll even chase a grandbaby or two around for a minute. But run? Absolutely not. And don’t even get me started on the gym. Just thinking about it makes me want to run—mentally, of course. My body doesn’t get the memo.

Kate Moss once said, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.”

Bless her heart. First of all, her drug habit did the heavy lifting. And second of all, she’s clearly never had my cheesecake.

I’ll be 56 in May. And at this big, bold, beautiful age, I’ve finally decided to wave the white flag in this internal war I’ve been fighting for years—the one about chasing some picture-perfect version of myself.

You see, growing up, appearance was everything. Every woman I looked up to was either obsessed with perfection or seriously committed to chasing it down like it was the last bus of the night. So, naturally, I learned to do the same. But here’s what I’ve come to realize:

Perfection is a lie.

I’m not going to lie to y’all—I am vain. I like to look nice. I like to feel pretty. But I’ve come to the place where I no longer feel the need to lose my mind over the number on the scale. Maybe next year I’ll want to shed a few pounds. Maybe I won’t. Either way, it’s not going to define me anymore.

Because, at the end of the day…

I am beautiful.

I am woman, I am fearless,

I am sexy, I’m divine,

I’m unbeatable, I’m creative,

Honey, you can get in line.

I am feminine, I am masculine,

I am anything I want.

I can teach you, I can love you,

If you got it goin’ on.

I am classy, I am modern,

I live by my own design.

I’m cherry, I’m lemon,

I’m the sweetest key lime pie.

I’m electric, I’m bass,

I’m the beat of my own drum.

I am beautiful.

Life is one big journey—and I’m sharing mine, one mile and one moment at a time. Subscribe to follow along.

XOXO, Jani

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