MELISSA
Easton, MA
Wife, daughter, sister, friend, colleague. I believe in integrity, gratitude & authenticity. Our wedding day was my best day - one filled with laughter & happy tears. My worst day was 6 weeks later when my mother in law died in a tragic car accident. We had a strong bond & that was a dark time. Since then I have feared an unforeseen tragedy happening to me or those I love. As a kid I was sensitive, naive & kind. I struggled with anxiety & panic disorder which led to a concurrent battle with anorexia that lasted for about 12 years. Managing the anorexia took years of therapy, psychologist visits & nutrition counseling to finally accept food as medicine. Once I started to eat properly, gain weight & negate the fatigue it was about managing the panic & fear that I have embodied my whole life. That struggle is ongoing. Exercise, movement & daily reflection has helped me build a mental & physical fortress that allows me to wake up and thrive each day. Before I found my voice, speaking up was a tall mountain to climb; when I would assert myself my voice would meet me with a cold sweat, butterflies & complete awkwardness. I often worry that my anxiety is penetrating a room. I used to live by the story that I'm too scared to create the life I want. Fear kept me from being my truest self and from being heard and instead I manifested that into micromanaging my diet. These days I don't let negativity get in the way of owning my own world and altering my thinking. Now people see me as a fearless leader, a take-controller and a light in the workplace - I believe I am all those things. I believe happiness comes from self-care, patience & lifelong learning. Beauty, as my husband says, is confidence above all! I've learned I have to love myself before I can truly love someone else. Love should be passion, not a project where you’re trying to fix someone. I wish women embraced more compliments and stopped making excuses. I am proud to be assertive, brave and silly. I am Melissa. I love to get lost in my imagination, to put on cute shoes, make a cup of coffee and make it happen! I’m happy, confident and creative and I’m so excited for 12 new months ahead!
