Eat Well
Six months ago I was writing my December 2025 newsletter while sitting at a desk in a room in Thailand. The ocean was about forty feet away, and I proudly wrote about living life with “a positive, confident, faithful attitude. I trust the process of making choices and accepting outcomes.” I wrote it with great confidence, not yet aware of the resistance I was still carrying to fully believing in myself.
Right now, I am sitting on a yoga mat writing the July 2026 newsletter and remembering one short experience from the course I attended in Thailand. The experience was me standing up in the middle of a circle of about 35 people to declare who I was becoming, out loud with real feeling, so they would believe me and I would believe me. I began. I was interrupted. A question was asked. (I don’t remember exactly what the question was.) I said, “I don’t know how.” I was told to sit down. I was there to succeed at something, and on day one I felt knocked down.
I sat down, yet I wanted to run away. I did not like the outcome of my choice.
I have allowed rumination (the process of overthinking) to replay this one scenario in my mind for six months. Not constantly, but enough times that this morning as I speak aloud that I am ready to “level up” in life (while not knowing what leveling up looks like), this scenario, and the emotion of shame and embarrassment I felt and the thought I was “not helped” when being told “to sit down,” are strong in my body.
I say to my reflection in the window with some tears falling from the eyes, “I am not my body. I am not my thinking.” I say next, “I am not my emotions,” and the stress leaves the body. I am not my emotions.
Six months ago in that same December 2025 newsletter, I also wrote that, “I allowed my mind to be full of fear, self-criticism, and self-doubt. I was insecure and lacked self-esteem.” I was writing about my younger self. Maybe some of that insecurity is still with me.
I am very surprised that this story of me holding onto “insecurities and low self-esteem” is being written because I have been so excited to share with you this new project I call “Eat Well” that is launching today, July 1, 2026.
But maybe I’m not that surprised.
For about a week now, I’ve been asking out loud to level up, to upgrade my life. And with asking for something and doing the work to make it happen, something called resistance shows up. Resistance is that thing that is fighting against what is trying to happen. In my situation, resistance is the reminder of what I couldn’t do at a specific moment, of how I felt like a failure, the evidence that I am not enough.
Hello resistance. I recognize you. I acknowledge you.
I am enough. I am a success. I love learning.
It turns out the courage to stay seated in that Thailand course room is the same courage it takes to honor my commitment for my new “Eat Well” project. Both are practices of staying, even when it’s uncomfortable. I am learning to stay.
“Eat Well” is a daily six month series where I share my life with food. I’ve been working for over a month now to write some daily posts and really figure out what to share with you. In the process, I’ve discovered a more capable, confident, and courageous Stacy.
As I share how I am continuously learning to love and accept myself, I welcome you to join me on this new adventure with “Eat Well.” A new post can be read and viewed every day, through the rest of the calendar year, on my personal website starting today. (StacyRichards.com)
Aloha
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“Dating Myself” is a practice I started some years before leaving a 20 year marriage. I realized to “stop waiting” for a husband to enjoy activities together. Come hear what else I have to say about dating myself.
New Yoga Blog: Tree Pose
Recording myself brings me extra awareness about myself. Recording Tree Pose reminded me how focused and efficient I can be to complete a task, especially where there are limitations. The limitation this past week was limited space available on the phone to record with. I’m proud of being efficient. Come practice with me.
Fun Personal Learning for You: Date Yourself
This month, I encourage you to intentionally take time to “date yourself.” Whether you do it once or multiple times, I encourage you to make a plan (or date) that excites you to spend time with yourself.