Looks Aren’t Everything
Looks Aren’t Everything
I just watched this TED Talk from supermodel Cameron Russell and wanted to share it with you. Go ahead and click that play button then come back and have a discussion with me.
*you should be watching the video now*
What’d you think of that? It’s good to hear from a real model that the girls in the mags and on the runways with “the thinnest thighs and the shiniest hair” – the girls that society all expects us to look like – these are the girls who are most insecure about their bodies. So many of us think that if we’d just lose another 5 lbs or have flatter abs that we’d be so much happier. The truth is – that happiness is only momentary. It’s superficial. It’s never enough unless you figure out how to glow…from the inside.
Listen to me when I say that nothing is sexier than a girl who knows who she is, what she’s about, and isn’t afraid to let her real personality shine through regardless of the size of her hips, the color of her skin, or what her job is. She’s beaming with an infectious aura that just draws people in because she’s positive and inviting . When people engage in conversation or activity with her, she leaves them feeling excited! She’s able to compliment others and truly mean it because her cup is overflowing with good energy. (When I refer to cup, I mean the cup everyone refers to as half empty or half full. Her’s is always too full so she can give!)
Nope, this isn’t just cliche – it’s the truth.
A couple weekends ago, I was at a dinner party meeting all kinds of people and eating delicious food. I remember that most of the female attendees were in nice dresses, heels, had their makeup done, and looked very posh. Later on another girl arrived in a button up sweater, a polo, khakis, and flats – almost as if she arrived straight from work. Now, as much as we all shouldn’t judge on first impressions – we do it unconsciously anyway. So from my description you’d ASSUME she was a shy girl who doesn’t like to party and keeps to herself right?
The next couple hours I made a point to get to know her and I was seriously…BLOWN AWAY.
Back to the story…it was like she got more gorgeous with every second I listened to her speak. It was really, kinda weird. I mean even physically I started to appreciate every unique feature about her! Turns out she was a young entrepreneur who had started 2 business already! She was witty, intelligent, and had a really cool sense of humor. By the time I left the dinner party, I was inspired to be more creative and work as hard as ever.
A confident girl glows with beauty that no one can take away from her, as long as she knows what she believes in and stands by it.
Now here’s what fitness has to do with it all. I know a lot of us start working out because we are on level 2, searching for a way to achieve the body of our dreams. You work hard. You see changes. But once your mind clicks and you begin to truly embrace the intangible joys of exercise – there are so many other benefits that come along with it. Start appreciating your body and show it some love. You will see that your positive energy will build up a fiery ball of confidence that will drive you through life.
If you’re feeling unsure about your looks, your weight, your relationship, what you wanna do in life etc…start focusing on what you ARE sure about. And that’s YOU. You are an expert on you. Hone in on what makes you feel alive, what makes you happy. Do more of that. Your fire will burn brighter and you will be able to blaze through everything in your path.
This is the same fire that will take you through some of the toughest workouts of your life.
NOW GO KILL IT 🙂
Tell me in the comments – what makes you truly happy! I’d love to hear!
<3 Cassey
87 thoughts on “Looks Aren’t Everything”
There are Array87 comments posted by our users.
actually I was searching for related videos and essays to the TED video and I just saw your post. here are some of my thought that I wanna share with you. I am a sport constructor and have faced a great number of girls who came to me and nagging about their appearance and lots of desires for having bigger boobs or butts. whenever i asked them, ok so why do you want it? and asking about what motivated them, surprisingly, they all said it is more sexier and actually increase our chance to catch someones (boys in particular) eyes!!!! I have always been thinking that ok workout is good , despite of its different stimulations, but can I ever find someone who actually loves herself and do everything just because or her own sake?! it is truly hard to see your peers struggling with some shallow beliefs set by fashion industry. this topic is close to my heart as I am one of the girls who actually have found my BEAUTY ASAP and now I am understanding how would it be like to swim against the stream and be unique. I would like to invite you all to challenge yourselves and find the real YOU!
It is swimming for me
Awesome post 😀 ilysm Cassey 🙂
This is the best post I’ve run across on your site yet! I love TED talks and this one just made the point that I have been trying to understand all along on my journey lately. This, in combination with your amazing words, is why I am able to say that I love my body and mind for what they can do; I don’t hate them for what they can’t.
I think that’s the best post I’ve read that you have written.
Wow, I really enjoyed and needed that.
Thanks Cassey, have a stellar week
Cassey,I just ran across your video’s last night on you tube & Honestly I have been so excited to exercise
& frankly to watch any of your clip because of your beautiful yet contagious spirit! it is more than the exercise or atleast that is what i am finding, you often hear people say to work out you’r (Body,Mind & Spirit) &I agree with that for we are a 3 part being! Cassey from an outsiders perception I think you exude the part of; when you wrote~Listen to me when I say that nothing is sexier than a girl who knows who she is, what she’s about, and isn’t afraid to let her real personality *shine through (“regardless”) of the size of her hips, the color of her skin, or what her job is. She’s *beaming* with an (*nfectious aura*) that just draws people in because (*she’s positive) and (inviting!!!*) . When people engage in conversation or activity with her, she leaves them *(feeling excited!*) She’s able to *(compliment*) others and truly mean it because her cup is overflowing with good energy. (When I refer to cup, I mean the cup everyone refers to as half empty or half full. Her’s is always too full so she can give!) *( &) is my way of saying this is my view of you! & thank you for the advice of; “start focusing on what you ARE sure about. And that’s YOU. You are an expert on you. Hone in on what makes you feel alive, what makes you happy. Do more of that. Your fire will burn brighter and you will be able to blaze through everything in your path.” Cassey,I could go on & on about what i have learned in just a few clips of your’s & how you model it so well & this goes beyond the exercise,it is embracing all of ME & having fun with it!
this is a truly awesome post! thank you
Cassie, this is truly the best post ever written! You have some great articles and this one is truly amazing!!! 😀 The saying, “we make our own happiness” is so true. Earlier today I saw someone from high school on facebook, she is absolutely beautiful and has definitely won the genetic lottery. It made me feel insecure about my looks, and I was wondering if I was pretty enough. I found out that she is shaving her hair – which is also gorgeous(!) for charity, and it made me think, “wow she is beautiful on the inside as well!” Then I got even more insecure about my personality and was I doing enough for other people.
Confidence and insecurity are things I have been thinking about recently and this post from you really helps me and I hope it can help everybody else too.
We make our own happiness and we are responsible for ourselves, so lets make everyone happy and confident!
Aaaah that was what i needed. Thanks girl! <3 xo
WOW! I am balling right now. this post was so moving thank you so much for this. I just started your workouts today and I have come to realize I was doing them for the wrong reasons. Now I know what I need to be focusing on.
This post actually made me tear up!
Wow – Thank you so much for posting this! Seeing her compare her modelling photos to who she actually is was amazing.
Love the blog x
Thank you so much for posting that video and sharing your thoughts. I struggled with an eating disorder for close to 3 years and I can say from first hand experience that what you said about beauty and happiness is completely true, one does not equal the other. At 5′ 7″, Ive weighed as little as 95 pounds, and I can tell you that I wasn’t any happier then than I am now at a healthy weight. I had this idea engrained in me that if I could just lose more weight things would fall into place, that I would be more attractive, successful, secure and just generally more happy. In reality, since I was investing so much time and energy into my appearance, I didn’t have time to enjoy the things in life that really create happiness – friends, family, experiences, creating memories – I isolated myself by defining my own self worth in such superficial terms.
I think you put it perfectly when you said that there is nothing more beautiful than a woman who knows and loves herself, who is happy to be in her own skin and lets her personality shine. The women that I look up to in my life embody that, they are all incredibly beautiful though none of them fit the “ideal” image of womanly beauty our society perpetuates. This doesn’t mean that they don’t have insecurities, those never go away, but they don’t let those insecurities govern their life, they know that there are much more important things than the size of their thighs or the shininess of their hair.
I got on a bit of a tangent there..but really this was a great post. Thanks for being your beautiful self and inspiring others to find that in themselves 🙂
Something my father has always told me is “don’t compare your insides to other people’s outsides.” So much of the time we assume someone has a great life based on how they look or what they have, and if we don’t know them, we attribute their happiness to those things. I understand from a lot of experience how difficult it can be for a woman with insecurities about her body. Sometimes I slip into thinking that people who are thinner than i am must be happier because they do not have to worry about having thick thighs. Or I feel jealous of those who aren’t thin, who admit that they ought to lose some weight but don’t really care enough to do it. I feel jealous because to them, their thighs are not the something they stress out over.
It has taken me years to try and come to some self acceptance, to not compare myself to every girl I see. Maybe part of that comes from maturity, finding things I am interested in career wise, and building closer relationships with friends and family. However, it also helps me to eat healthy and exercise. I do enjoy exercise, which i think is true for many people once it becomes a habit. I also prefer healthy food to not healthy food. It makes me feel better. I don’t like feeling bloated and lethargic. I still treat myself a great deal.
self acceptance is such a gift, and unfortunately some of us have a harder time achieving it than others. As women, we were dealt a pretty serious handicap in this department. The way we think its cool to constantly put ourselves down doesn’t help. The other day my friend told me i was beautiful and i responded “but my hair is dirty.” she said when someone tells me I am beautiful, I should thank them, not find some way to contradict them.
I think it is so important to have communities like this where we can relate to one another and seek out positivity and self care. self-acceptance comes easiest to me when I am in touch with the fact that we are all on an equal plain, that there is no justification behind judgement. We are amazing women!
Thank you Cassey for sharing these beautiful words! It’s very inspiring!
Honestly, I found your words to be a lot more inspiring than Cameron’s! While she had some insightful and thoughtful wisdom on this matter, your post seemed more genuine and real. You were able to relate a real world example of how confidence is key. I understand that Cameron is trying to say that everyone is insecure even the most beautiful people. However, you were showing us how to find beauty from within as that is the true form of beauty. The overall message being positive, while Cameron’s, I feel, trended towards the negative. Please don’t take this as Cameron bashing! I just think that you, Cassey, did a better job of inspiring me than Cameron did.
Thank you so much casey for posting this. It was so inspirational and opened my eyes to “a whole nee world” and a new fresh perspective.
As you mention it i realize confidence is more beautiful than any pair of double ds and flat abs and made me see that when I’m working out I should focus more internally so that while flat abs would be awesome the REAL goal is FEELING good and comfortable because at the end of the day that is what matters most.
Thank you for making my day and inspiring me and making me feel like there are girls out tjere like US who believe that beauty still lies on the inside more than out and that we, as women, are not just pretty dolls to look at… We have voices opinions and purposes (and were not sexual objects)
If you ever feel like youre not making an impact let me tell you, you have made an impact on me that will last me a lifetime.. Please never stop doing this blog because it is so inspirational and real!
All the best,
Emily
This video is truly inspiring in my opinion. She did a wonderful job giving us a scoop of what the industry is like and what it can do to you. She’s a beautiful woman — and not because of what is on the outside. It really does shine through — and it is true! a confident woman radiates.
Dear Cassey,
Thank you.
I think all the POPsters here said it all. This post was really the best one yet. I always thought when fit people, slim people aka the ‘perfect’ people say that ‘oh no it’s what’s inside that matters’ I find it kind of cliche like as if they know how it feels. And I’ve come to realize from this post that they do know how it feels. We’re all in our own fitness journey and they’re just ahead of us, more experienced and they know how it felt like to be in our shoes. We’re all heading towards the same goal. Just because they’ve reached it first doesn’t mean that we wouldn’t. They speak of experience because when they look back, they realize that all these time, it’s how it makes you feel in the end. You feel better of yourself and it automatically leads you to think that you can achieve something cause you’ve done it!
It really opened my eyes. And this is the best motivation I’ve ever got! Thanks Cassey! You know you’re awesome and you know you’re the best! Love ya lots!
haven’t had a chance to listen yet, but by the way, Carrie Underwood’s Blown Away is a great song to run to…perfect tempo and energy…glad you posted it
I appreciate all that was said here- but there’s one recurring refrain that I think needs attention: “It fades.” The idea beneath that, that there is a clock time to radiance, is untrue, if you wish to make it otherwise. A friend of mine was a model and actress in the 70s, a successful one. She left the industry and moved to Barbados, where she is a painter, a teacher of self-defense to local girls, a writer, a figure in her community. She’s in her late sixties and even to a superficial eye, is GORGEOUS. She’s fit, her hair gone gray and usually bound up with flowers, she is outspoken and interesting, and according to her, life really began when she moved and made that change. “S” lives for herself. She takes very good care of herself, yes, but that is so she can keep doing what matters. So don’t put a lid on the number of years you are “attractive”, or “relevant”. I am sure “S” will be inspiring and beautiful for as long as she lives on earth.
i truly enjoyed her speech; it’s great to hear things like that because society and the media can really give you a false sense of reality, my goodness. she seems so down to earth. love her!
Love the message being conveyed! Thanks for your constant inspiration, inner beauty is what truly matters! 🙂
Hey cassey as always great post and interesting vid!
Was anyone else a little insulted by the beginning though? I didn’t make any judgements when she came out and my opinion of her wasn’t transformed by her putting on a jumper. Otherwise a great speech but I think it was lessened by a pointless intro!
Thank you SO much! You just made my day. I love this article. Besides our bodies, we also have to tone up our “spiritual side” (I think is more imporant). If you love who you are, and HOW YOU ARE, everything turns into glitter!!!
Wow. I actually JUST wrote a small excerpt about something similar the other day. All together, they were just broad spectrum tips on how to achieve your fitness goals, but one of them was: Love and accept yourself. Your self worth isn’t defined by your physical attributes (I think another, “don’t compare yourself to anyone else” also fits in here too).
And to quote from the excerpt on loving one’s self: “I personally find the most beautiful people are the ones that are confident, regardless of how they look; that remain positive through and through; that are happy with themselves.” I’m in total agreement.
What’s that saying? An ugly personality can ruin a pretty face? I find that your personality is the most important thing. Sure, we make first impressions on looks, but those usually change quickly once we get to know the person. I tend to find bitter, negative and people that try to start drama to be the least attractive and people that smile, have passion and believe in themselves to be beautiful! : ) Everyone’s own perception of beauty is different. If everyone had the same perception of beauty, it would be a boring world.
This video was wonderful to see. I remember seeing Cybil Shepard on Oprah a few years ago saying that when she would see a picture of herself on the cover of a magazine her initial thought would be that she wished she looked like that girl.
Retouching of photos has been going on for so long but now models and actors are less afraid to admit it. It gives me hope for my daughter that her body image will be normal instead of going through what I went through in hating my body for having large breasts and wide hips. At this stage in my life I wish I could go back and say to myself, “You can’t change who you are. This is how your body is. It isn’t you. It’s genetics.”
I loved the way she talked about constructions.
Cassey, it’s for posts like this that I follow your blog! 🙂 Thanks for helping us to keep everything in perspective.
Sorry, but this is so fake. Just like any other inspirational and motivational story by someone who doesn’t have to worry about looks. A model?! Are you kidding me?!
Easy to say that looks aren’t everything when you look that gorgeous. We all know that looks fade and don’t really matter in the end but still now more then ever we are all slaves to workouts & cosmetics etc. and this primarily because we want to be beautiful on the outside.
And don’t tell me you workout because it makes you feel good that might be the case for some exceptions but most people need to workout because they want to be slim and toned and that is looks and has nothing to do with health.
I want to be beautiful because I do think it matters. Yes it does. Sad but true.
It makes a difference in how you are viewed by people, sometimes it even decides whether someone gives you a chance or not and it makes life a whole lot easier…
Being beautiful might be not everything but it is a huge deal in the end.
Cameron Russel isn’t saying looks don’t matter. She’s saying they matter immensely, her whole life is built around how she looks. She’s saying looking a certain way won’t automatically make you happy with yourself. She looks the way everyone else wishes they did and she’s still unhappy. She’s trying to say that beauty does not equal happiness.
You missed the entire point. What she was saying is that no matter how thin you are, how long or silky your hair is or anything else we ALL have insecurities and some of the people who are supposedly the most “gorgeous” of us all are the ones with the most and worst insecurities.
Are you sure that you didn’t miss the entire point of her point?
I cant believe there are only 41 comments on this. If only people were more inspired to talk about positive topics. Loved this post so much. As I am going through a rather difficult time right now, this helped me so much. What makes me truly happy is the happiness of the people I am closest to. There is nothing better than the laugh or smile of my closest friends and family.
Such an inspiring article. I wrote a blog post on the mental benefits of exercise today so this was great to read. Thank you so much! – Allison
This is so true!!!!
Thank you Cassey for this amazing post. I was blown away while listening to Cameron Russel’s speech, but I admit that I feel happy. So many time, no model ladies (I don’t know how to say that) hear that we are not as pretty or as beautiful as a model. But, I think that we are even more beautiful than a model just because we are YOURSELF. I was very obsessed by my weight and my body, the size of my clothes for years and now I decided to stop being so negative.
I started a routine with your video and I feel more relaxed, happier, prettier, even if I still have some “body defects” (like eveybody). Clothes size is just a number, it means nothing. Clothes are made in firms 100 units by 100 units without paying attention to how the machine cut them. So you can fit in a size 2 and 4 in an other kind of dress (or something else) just because the machine cut the piece of fabric pretty badly.
So now I focused on my energy, on my mind and love who I am cause it is true : models are not sure of themselves because they do not know who they are. We know who we are,what we are made of, what we are able to do, what we love and hate, what are our dreams, so Be Proud of Yourself, and you will be the Priettiest Woman EVER!
Love this. This post is so inspiring! Watching the Cameron Russell video really makes me upset that so many people are duped into thinking the complete opposite of what is true in the modeling career. It also made me a tad upset that the photographers were sexualizing CR’s images when she was so young! My dad always tried to push me into a modeling or voice track, but I knew that just wasn’t me so in order to gently let him down, I did some research about modeling careers to show him how chancy it would be to pursue that, like not being sure when you’d work next if you couldn’t book a shoot or a show.
The bottom line is that IT’S CRAZY! I hope and pray that the world’s idea of beauty is swayed to reflect the true beauty that is inside everyone with a pure heart and good intentions.
Hi Casey ,
Great article ! No matter what we do to ourselves looks will fade as the years go by, so hopefully once they do start to wane we have our inner beauy. Being who we really are inside and not trying to reinvent ourselves to make others like us or accept us is beautiful.I always believed that no matter how pretty one might be on the outside that if your beautiful on the inside it eventually shows on the outside and if your ugly on the inside this eventually shows on the physical also.
I know that everybody writes this, but this post is amazing, and that is why I started following you and your blog, you have this glow, this fire from inside, I love how you do everything so passionately and for this reason, you achieve everything you want, because you put this energy, this glow into everything you do. I want to be the same, I am working for this glow every day because I think that’s what we should live for, to do everything with passion and inner beaty in life, and make other people see this and help them achieve the same.
I dont know if this comment makes sense or not but I’m just so fired up and so passionate about this subject and I just wanted to let you know that I find you truly amazing and inspiring. 🙂
I would love to write a comment that could keep up with the importance of this post. But since that seems to be unpossible I just want to thank you, Cassey and all the blogilates fans.
Same here!
You said it!
This is the best post I have read here, ever. and I know this is a post I will come back and re-read from time to time. Thank you 🙂
Wow.. you know what? I think I have heard this a thousand times before, but I have never realized what it really means. I have read it and heard it but to hear it from her truly opened my eyes. It’s like I have been sleeping for a really long time and are waking up or something! The fact that she said she’s insecure tells me that you don’t need to be beautiful to be beautiful (lol) Thank you for posting this Cassey, I love your blog and your writing, you are a BIG inspiration. You have just changed my thinking. Every time I feel insecure I will look at that video and read what you wrote here and I feel so much better.
Thank you <3
Thank you Cassey for being such an inspiration as usual ! Yourself is the kind of “overflowing cup of good energy” that we are so lucky to share with you 🙂
What makes me happy is to cook, and here again, you have marvellous ideas to share. I love bring smiles in my friends face too. Sharing with people is one of the most important thing in the world, and it benefit to everybody.
What makes me happy too see a little something about you in the internet. On Twitter, on YouTube, on this site … every single thing you say brings a smile in my face. I know I’m a little fish in the sea like wwe say in France, but I’m totally impressed by who you are and all the good vibes you send to your community. Love you Cassey !
(sorry for my poor english again, I’m french).
What was Brett’s enthicity? You forgot to mention it in your post!
And thanks for sharing Cassy 😀
I came here just to comment that actually!! It is a great post though!
I love this video, it should be seen by all girls that would become model!
When i was in overweight i thought that when i would become thin, i would have been happy. Now that i’m thin i’m not so happy as i belevied. Why? maybe because i’m never sostisfied of my body, i’m searching the perfection that doesn’t exist. I should accept me for who i am. This doesn’t mean that i shouldn’t follow healthy diet and shouldn’t do workout.
You ask what makes you truly happy! I make me truly happy eat healthy and do workout because i take care of my body! 🙂
Great video and,,
I have to say it again that, Cassey, I LOVE YOU SO SO MUCH !!!
I love your every workout video, and I love your every blog post !!! <3
I always wish I could have found your website/Youtube Channel earlier 🙂
Thank you so much for being so kind and inspiring to us!!!
Thank you, you have said exactly what I always try to tell my clients. A great post 🙂
That was an excellent video, I nearly didn’t watch it because it didn’t display correctly on my RSS reader but decided to jump onto the site to see it.
I love most her comparison of ‘her’ and the ‘magazine her’ and “that’s not a picture of me, that’s a construction”. That was something really eye opening to see and I’m glad I took the time to do it.
I have to say that I am surprised that this is anything new to people. Do people still really need to be told that looks aren’t everything? Doesn’t everyone know that most models are horrendously insecure? Don’t people already know that no matter how skinny you are if you’re not healthy and the rest of your life isn’t healthy of course you’re not going to be happy. Sheesh. Is our culture really so shallow that people would think being 5lbs thinner would be a secret key to instant happiness. If you are unhealthy, the 5lbs might make you feel better but happiness is more than what’s on the outside. That seems like common sense. How many really pretty people have you known that are mean, nasty people on the inside. That’s not because they’re happy.
It’s difficult to be alive. Alive and female. We live in a culture full of messages that disregard our worth. God bless you for being confident and sure. But some of us are truly struggling and love the reminder. We are each mostly unhappy – for whatever reason. If we can help each other, that is to be valued and not devalued. 🙂 of course I knew the facts. But, honestly, some women are “prettier” and to hear a smart, honest, pretty woman through Blogilates filter was GOOD. We are all Beautiful, though. Beautiful. #sos47
I’d love the company at http://www.1000strands.com and @nicoletteromero
Thanks for that video. I really enjoyed it. I admit that I used to think models were perfect naturally but now I know that they’re all mostly airbrushed, photoshopped and are too thin because they have restrictive diets. That makes me feel better because feeling good and being healthy beats “looking good.” I don’t like how there’s a stereotypical idea of beauty these days
Great article, Cassey! What really makes me happy is travelling. I want to explore the whole world. I think I’m somewhat relatable that girl you met at the party. I feel the need to dress up to impress people, I wear what I feel comfortable in, but when I talk to people they are amazed at my sense of adventure and what I’ve achieved.
Best blog post yet. I think this is the sort of thing that girls need to hear. Especially young girls and especially the ones who are busting their butts to get a body that may be unattainable for them physically. This was an inspiration TED talk along with your comments. I hope you post more in this realm because with the media, and the pressure put on girls there are damaging effects.
Agree. Thank you. It’s nice to be in agreement sometimes. I really appreciate the women who are IN Blogilates’ world. 🙂
Thank you Cassey! I really enjoyed reading this post. I’m currently going through a career change and am struggling to find out what I would like to do next. Thank you for reminding me to focus on what makes me happy and what makes me feel alive. I believe that everything will fall in place for me as long as I continue to follow my heart.
Love you Cassey <3 thank you, I really needed this today. I've been feeling so unsure about my life lately so this was amazing to read.
Me too. So thanks again, Cassy! You’re my hero 🙂
Thank you so much for all this awesome and inspiring work you do for us all the time!
When I found you I was pretty unhappy. I finally graduated University, but I didn’t really not what kind of work i want to do. I had no boyfriend, I was unhappy with myself, i gained weight, i have eating disorders all the time- all kinds of eating disorders.
So then step by step i started living again, working out with you, finding inspiration, improving my english! I met a very nice guy, we became close friends, and everything turned out better than it ever has been before! I started sewing- only for myself, for friends as presents, like bags, accessories, phone cases, lots of stuff. Beside my job as a restaurant and an online shop, and besides the serious applications for a “normal-job” i thought everybody would expect.
So now I’m really happy. I’m still searching a job I can pay all my bills with, but beside this I started to realize my sewing- dreams. i always only want to sew and to bake. I was only to scared it wouldn’t work. Its still a long way, I have to work hard to think about the production and the ways of selling my products, creations and ideas.
But I’m happy. I love to make people happy with my creations, i love working with my hands an beeing productive. i’m not able to work in the normal business world in front of my computer calcultating numbers of anything. I like to inspire people, giving them something wonderful, made with love, and passion, where they can feel save and happy! This happy- save- holy- world idea, is manifested in my brand name “Candy Ranch”. We use this world as an substitute for everything, nice, crazy, special and wonderful. Its like we are all- happy, lovely, crazy, we are just all different, and this is what makes life interesting and wonderful!
As you can see am not a native english speaker. I hope you were able to understand my message!
I’m honored to found you because of the wonderful internet, and some inspirational clicks! I’m very happy to be part of your community, i totally appreciate your wonderful and awesome work, I’m blessed! I’M blessed, grateful and happy, sounds like i’m supposed to live on the “Candy Ranch”!
Take care, stay sexy,
TussiBussi, Sissi
Ok, I know I am replying to too many people tonight… But Casey, you have great followers!!! Sissi!! You are an inspiration! God bless you and all of the things you are doing!!
Coming from a recovering bulimic, this completely turned my day around. I feel like when I came to your blog today I had literally just opened up a fortune cookie or something. Such a great message and I cannot tell you how perfect the timing was that I saw this. I know that one day I will attain the same loving/healthy balance in life that you carry with such poise. Thank you for this!
That video was amazing! I love how candidly she spoke and how honest she was!
That’s a good reminder to appreciate ourselves as we are now, and to no find out identity solely in looks but rather in who we are deep down. Exercises should be something we push for because it that makes us feel good, the changes and results are the cherry on top! It reminds us that it’s okay to slow down when needed, and I feel it even builds exercises as a positive bobbie instead of a dreaded task. We should focus to improve our inside as much as we do our outside, if not we become nothing but a fake façade.
Great post!
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hobby***
Geez on the spell check mess ups!
Beautifuly said Cassey! You are an amazing writer!
I agree with jaymi guys always complain they want someone to treat them right not cheat and be good friends with but then they constantly date “easy,slutty” girls who hurt them.Then go on complaining about M.O.B bullshit.If they want someone who will be what earlier describe they must not only care about impressing their friends.
Amazing post girl! This is so true. Sometimes we focus so much on image that we lose who we are or who someone else truly is. You are very inspirational <3
LOVED that vid!!! so awesome!!! i honestly always thought that models would say “omg im fat” or “i gained weight!” was because they wur LOOKING for a compliment! u kno…all those skinny girls out there that say that stuff when YA they really ARE lookin for ppl to say “OMG NO!! UR SO SKINNY GIRL!!” i would have never thought they wur so insecure about them selves! i guess it makes sence tho…they are EXPECTED to look good and be OOBER skinny ALL THE TIME! its sad really that they dont and wont ever get to live a REAL life! they will get ridiculed if they gain ANY weight in the tabs! that would SUUUUCK!
Thanks Cassey!, I’ve been trying to remind myself lately that looks are nothing if you are not sure of who you are, but it’s difficult. I’ve been working out and eating healthy for about 6 months and of course I’ve lost weight. I’m happy with myself, but I’ve come to realize that everyone really really cares about looks. tons of people have told me that I look HOT, that now that I’ve lost weight i’m pretty. I know who I am and what I want, but how do you tell that to little girls? How do you fight against what society have always believed and seems so not willing to change?
You are amazing by the way, thank you for all that you do for us!
Greets from Chile!
I kinda agree. I wanna lose weight but so I can feel more confident. It’s one thing if you’re already slim but it’s a completely different thing if you’re a bigger girl like me. I mean I am happy for every inch that I lose. I don’t even bother with the scale anymore. I love getting the “you look better” because it’s not just the weight, its the loss that gives me more confidence.
^^^^^^^ tis what I wrote before I saw the video… I totally agree with her cause my white friends are all extremely slender, while the black people I know are curvy and yet I strive to look extremely slender when I should just be glad I am curvy and beautiful now 🙂
When happiness depends on something as ephemeral as looks, you are only selling yourself short, binding yourself to a certain future of disappointment. Looks don’t last forever, but good ‘ol self-esteem does. 🙂
Great Post. Will save this in the archives until my 5 year old is a little bigger!
And what makes me truly happy? My girls.
What makes me inspired – many things – but just thought I’d take the time today to let you know that I look forward to your daily inspiration every day for a little motivation/recipes for great food/ideas/sunshine/links/perspective/etc. Your FB posts, and blogs are a little 5 minutes I cherish and get to myself each day, and help me stay motivated, and I would go so far as to say – challenge myself to be the best mom I can be in the way I shape my kids’ approach to nutrition, excercies and health (mental, emotional and physical). So thanks for that!
WOW! First of all, this woman captivated me. I read vogue all the time and I usually don’t notice the models but what they are modelling (I have a serious high fashion addiction) but when I do, I go “man I wish I looked like her”. Being a model was a possibility for me at one time but I chose not to go that route because I wanted (and now have) tattoos. I want to lose weight so I can get back down to 125lbs. It would make me happier but because that meant I stuck to my goal and kept up the hard work.
I needed this today. I have been working out hard and eating cleaner, but the scale has gone up instead of down. I must focus on the changes I and others have noticed and not worry so much about numbers!
Definitely don’t worry so much about the numbers! If you’ve been working out hard and eating cleaner and your friends have noticed … it means that you are building muscle! You should look at the percentage of body fat and lean mass. The scale has gone up because you have gained lean mass and most likely you have reduced body fat. So way to go!
you probably lost fat and gained muscle mass and muscle is heavier than fat but looks better and leaner. it’s happening to me too i’m finally starting to see changes that make me happy but the numbers are either the same or more, and i think that is why yay 🙂
thanks for sharing that video it was really interesting! i think i have accepted the fact that being skinnier or prettier or how society wants me to be is not going to make me happy. accepting myself is what makes me happy and blogilates helped me realize that and thanks to you the reason why i workout is not just because i want to looks more fit but because it makes me happy when i check off the workouts on the FEBFAB calender and deny a cookie and eat outmeal with blueberries instead. and i learned how to accept myself while doing blogilates! <3
That’s where you were different. You made an effort to get to know that girl. Not many are like you Cassey. I will tell you (especially where I live) Looks are a deal breaker. Because I don’t look like Cameron or Tyra, I am so quickly to be dismissed. (It kills me on dating sites because the guys are all ” I want a girl I can talk to and be friends with…I’m so done with these B-words who think they are all that” but then I email them and they take one look at my picures and suddenly they can’t talk to me. It hurts to see that just because I’m packin’ a little more fluff than some that I’m “worthless”.
This is such a fantastic post! What makes me truly happy…Hmm…Well, spending time with my family and friends, helping others, knitting, nature, etc. But what is most important to me is being optimistic and happy every day. 🙂
You are so inspirational!! I love all of your posts and I soo wish I could meet you!! You are an amazing person that instills confidence, determination, and motivation in everyone you know. I love you and love everything you stand for! Thank you for the wonderful post!!!
Ever since I found your videos I have never been happier. I was eating clean before I found you but now my whole life has changed in a wonderful way!! Thanks for everything! You most definitely glow from the inside and outside!! I aspire to be as positive and healthy as you 🙂
That was such an inspiring video. Thanks Cassey for the link to this, Cameron really showed what most of what all knew all along. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Thank you thank you cassey for all the inspiration you give me every single day!! Without you this journey I’m on would be so much more difficult. I know I am merely a single girl in your sea of fans but I want you to know that you mean the world to me and my daily life. That mind body connection did not happen until 4 months ago and I am happier than I have ever been in my life!! Thank you!!! oxoxox
There’s a great documentary I just saw called “Happy”–it’s really interesting. You should check it out. It reminded me a lot of what you talked about in this post.
I think the belief that “if I was skinnier” or “if I looked like this” I would be happy helps create eating disorders because you search for happiness in an unfulfilling way. You have to address why you are unhappy and really look at yourself to figure out why you are unhappy in the first place–often food issues hide a deeper issue.
I also agree that the most beautiful people are those who are the most confident and the inner beauty shines out, as cheesy as that sounds.
I saw this video too Rachel & I fell in love with the people & ideas in the doc ~ it really makes you think about what’s important & where we need to focus our energy to truly enjoy our life.
Love the supportive & uplifting energy we’re vibin’ on here 😉