I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how even when I’m not “moving” my dreams are still aligning for me…
Or maybe a better way to say it is that I’m amazed by all of the work in the waiting.
You know the type. It’s the kind of work that’s happening for you behind the scenes. The kind that’s happening for you without you realizing. But that’s not to say the success is spontaneous. In fact, the success is a direct result of the (sometimes YEARS of) hard work and consistency come before it. And before the success it feels like A LOT of dedication with little to no reward in the moment.
I’m not exactly sure how to explain it, but I’ve always known I’m meant to share my journey on a great platform. A platform with positive impact, and one with the ability to motivate great change. For YEARS I worked to create the platform(s) myself, and that’s not to be discounted because it really did work! But even as recent as 5 months ago it felt like a daunting process…and one that *occasionally* allowed me to believe the lie “this is all the further I’ll go…”
If you’re looking for *that girl* telling you to slow down…I am NOT her.
YES I love a *moment* for me — one that is slow, intentional, relaxing, and cup-filling — but after some serious consideration, I’m not sure THIS is that moment.
Let me explain…
This moment is literally setup for us as a reset, as a time to reflect on every success, and as a time to ask “is this really who/where I want to be again next year?” And YES I know that can be a really daunting question. But listen…setting the same goals again and again feels like a past Rachel problem🤷🏻♀️
What if rather than allowing the pressure of “new year, new me” hurt us, we let it help us instead? What if we let it motivate, hold us accountable, ignite small steps who add up to make a great difference, and leads us to the life we dream?
I don’t know about YOU but THAT sounds a lot like 2023 me!
And listen, letting this moment inspire you to start doesn’t mean making changes that cause an even greater backslide. And it doesn’t mean making every change at once or in a damaging way either. But instead it means setting small, attainable goals who together make a BIG change! So please, take it slow but don’t slow down. You’re almost there, and I’m cheering for you!
If you’re looking for confidence boosting resources to support you and your dream, considering 1:1 confidence coaching at Ditch the Clique! Plus, subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Instagram for more inspiring stories and empowering words! Stream The BodPod weekly everywhere you listen to podcasts and on YouTube too!
who is Rachel?
Rachel K. Grim is the Brooklyn New York based blogger, speaker, and empowerHER behind the event series and online community Ditch the Clique. In 2019 Rachel launched Ditch the Clique to empower REAL women of all ages, races, sizes, and careers with goal-getting resources to live the life they dream! When she’s not scheming new ways to grow the Ditch the Clique COMMUNITY, Rachel can be found eating and shopping her way through New York City, traveling abroad, or watching binge-worthy reality television (with a glass of prosecco in hand, of course)!
GIRL whether you’re a long-time reader of DTC’s blog OR it’s your first time paging through our 100+ posts of inspo, you’ve likely realized by now that we’re all about celebrating everyBODY!
BUT as a curvy girl myself (SheEO Rachel K Grim here!) I have a special space in my big heart for my fellow mid-size to plus-size ladies – ESPECIALLY in the hot summer months. An increase in temps means a decrease in clothes but occasionally as a curvy girl….well, that’s easier said than done! So to empower YOU to love the skin you’re in this summer & BEYOND, I’m sharing a few of my confidence boosting Curvy Girl Summer Essentials!
1. PICABOO – anti-chafe cream
FACT: I HATE being hot and GIRL, I’m ALWAYS hot (especially in NYC where the AC is hard to come by!) We all know hot leads to sweat, sweat leads to chafing, and chafing leads to a major blow of the ego. Thankfully our fellow curvy-queen Samanta Moise of La Parea Wellness created PICABOO – an anti-chaffing balm for under boobs, arms, thighs, or anywhere you need! In full transparency, she gifted me this life-changing product last spring (2021) but I have sweat through may pucks of it since! I particularly love PICABOO because it’s clean, calming ingredients create a barrier on top of the skin, allowing your skin to glide rather than rub, irritate, and chafe. And as a curvy girl with thick thighs who’ve fallen victim to chafing too many times, I mean it when I say this cream has changed my life (and made me SO much happier on long, sweaty walks around the city too!)
The ONE thing that may be worse than chaffing, sweaty undies stuck in your bum! I know *CRINGE* but also…TELL ME I’M WRONG – it’s the worst! So when my friends at Truekind sent me their seamless stretch undie shorts for Summer 2022, my tune for the season completely changed. Not only are they super stretch (coming in 2 sizes: S-XL and 2XL-4XL) but they are breathable and cut to avoid chafing too! I personally love these seamless shorts under summer dresses and ordered EVERY color possible after loving the black pair they’d sent me so much. Talk about a sweaty summer bummer turned confidence booster!
Though sweating and chaffing absolutely SUCK (sorry mom, no better way to say it) I’d argue finding comfortable, supportive, confidence boosting swimwear is the greatest challenge of all! At the kick off of 2022 I was introduced to Bravissimo – a UK based intimate and swimwear brand designed with bigger boobs in mind (for real – their tagline is “made for D cups & up!”) To be sure I had the *FULL* Bravissimo experience, they invited me to a complimentary bra fitting and have been setting me up with the BEST bras and swimwear since. Like seriously – the swimwear features underwire that doesn’t dig into my skin AND the intimates are quality! Plus, thanks to my fitting, they suggest styles tailored to MY SIZE + SHAPE like the Cancun One Piece Swimsuit, Montana Wire Bikini and (my favorite of the summer!) the Las Cabanas Bikini I wore for my shoot with NY Magazine!
But now I need to know…no, WE need to know YOU essentials to surviving curvy girl summer so we can ALL live our best lives this season and BEYOND! Comment your favorites below and connect with us @ditchtheclique on Instagram for more confidence boosting resources at your fingertips.
who is Rachel?
Rachel K. Grim is the Brooklyn New York based blogger, speaker, and empowerHER behind the event series and online community Ditch the Clique. In 2019 Rachel launched Ditch the Clique to empower REAL women of all ages, races, sizes, and careers with goal-getting resources to live the life they dream! When she’s not scheming new ways to grow the Ditch the Clique COMMUNITY, Rachel can be found eating and shopping her way through New York City, traveling abroad, or watching binge-worthy reality television (with a glass of prosecco in hand, of course)!
rachelkgrimstyle.com 