The title I chose for this blog post is a line from the my sorority’s symphony. (Chi Omega)

I have a copy hanging at my office at work, and often will look up to the words — dated from 1904 — when I am feeling down.

These are the words that, without realizing it at the time, really defined my college experience and, ultimately, have shaped me into the woman I am today.

Lately I’ve been really analyzing this: “To be womanly always, to be discouraged never.” As pledges, we often giggled at that phrase (as well as some others) but ten years later, it really resonates so well, especially during tough times in our personal or professional lives.

When I feel like there’s no end in sight to a problem, just looking up at those words of wisdom can really help shift my attitude. “To be womanly always, discouraged never.”

When it comes to big things like body acceptance, it’s admittedly hard not to be discouraged when we don’t see the results we want to see, or feel the way we want to feel about ourselves. It doesn’t happen overnight and sometimes we grow impatient.

And like anyone overcoming an obstacle, the key to success is persistence: not giving up. Being a woman and owning it. Not falling victim to societal pressures of what we “should” be, loving ourselves and accepting ourselves as we are, which is a daily struggle for me (and so many others).

So here’s a challenge to all of us.

Imagine if we didn’t think/talk/write/blog about food, exercise, ED, body issues, etc. for a full day. 24 hours.

I’m ashamed to admit that I’d probably have 2-3 free hours every day if I didn’t focus so much of my thoughts/energies on this realm.

I am going to give it a whirl this Wednesday; I’m calling it my “Blackout Day.”

And in honor of my sisterhood, I want to set an example of someone who is (at least most of the time!) womanly always, discouraged never.

How about you? How many hours of your day do you think you’d have? if you weren’t preoccupied with these kinds of thoughts?