HELLO FRIENDS!

I am a calendar girl.

Five words I never thought I would say!

July 2021 I had my picture taken for the 2022 Raw and Reflective Calendar with the proceeds of the calendar going to Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka.

I have had my picture taken professionally before; it always makes me nervous but this time I was extra nervous. Because this time I would be taking my picture without my clothes on!

I was fortunate my photographer was someone I was familiar with and a very talented professional who made me very comfortable and safe and who made the whole experience incredibly fun.

But still. I was naked with the exception of my underwear.

As someone who is classified as obese and who has struggled with my weight my entire life, if you would have told me one day I would be a calendar girl posing almost nude, I would have laughed. HARD.

So why nude? This calendar is a fundraiser for Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka. The models are those who have experienced or are experiencing cancer.

Each year has a different theme, 2022 is connections. Each model has a photo shoot and writes a paragraph around the theme based on their own cancer journey.

Cancer and its treatments can make you uncomfortable with your body. There are amputations (both inside and out), and changes in the body such as scars, tattoos, weight gain, and weight loss to name a few. There are also mental changes, our lives will never be the same and cancer can take more than physical things from you.  

For all those reasons and more the idea for “Raw and Reflective” is that we share our stories and embrace the journey.

This calendar was meaningful to me in a few ways.

I love to be able to give back to my community and Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka has been an incredible support to me during my journey so I am happy to be able to give back to me.

My career pivot into a Life Enthusiast involves me sharing my story in hopes I can help others, so this initiative felt right.

Finally, I want to celebrate my body. She has been through so much and I haven’t been as kind to her as I should have in the past.

My body is strong. My body is beautiful. My body is a miracle.

So for all of these reasons I am now a proud calendar girl, you can call me Ms. September!

Being featured on the month of my birth, in my 50^th year, is pretty special. It may have taken me 50 years and a major health crisis to fully appreciate my wonderful body. I plan to celebrate her as much as I possibly can. She is a f**king rockstar!