Stephanie Chinn - Here Sister, Let Me Help You Up: Messages of Sisterhood, Self-Care, and Body Love

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to the generation before me

MY MOM,

FOR ALWAYS REMINDING ME

that I can create the

WORLD I WANT FOR MYSELF.

and for LILLIAN:
EVERYTHING I DO

is to create the world that i

WOULD HAVE WANTED YOU

TO BE A PART OF.

WHETHER YOUVE BEEN TOLD YOURE TOO MUCH OR NOT ENOUGH, know that youre not alone. Its time to push aside those messages that hit you from all directions and even inside your own doubting mind. Its time to reclaim the truth of how glorious you are, just as you are, and live it out.

Moving to a new, trustworthy view of ourselves can be messy at first but so freeing in the end. To make the journey easier, carry the strength of sisters who support you and this truth with you always: only you get to decide what you believe about yourself. Then be gentle and patient with yourself. These beliefs wont switch overnight, but understanding that you are the one who ultimately gets to decide what you want to believe is the soil for beautiful seeds to grow.

Only you can change the story your head and heart take in each day. But together, we can build a community of sister support that makes it easier to find that truththat you are the keeper of your own magic and the world needs you just as you were made to be. Every illustration and word in this book is designed to help you grow closer to yourself and your sisters around you and to remind you that when we lift ourselves up, we lift up those around us.

LETS START THE IMPORTANT WORK HERE, AND KEEP UP THE CONVERSATION AND INSPIRATION ON INSTAGRAM: STEPHANIECHINNART.

IN OUR MATERIAL WORLD, we often forget this simple, powerful truth: each and every one of us holds magic. We can become so wrapped up in thinking we need more of somethingconnections, notoriety, moneyin order to make magic happen and realize our dreams. We buy crystals, good luck charms, and astral readings, trying to create a spark in our lives. While these kinds of tokens can be wonderful reminders of magic and possibilities, they dont bring us anything we dont already have deep within us. We are the magic we have been waiting for.

ALL WE NEED TO DO IS CREATE THE SPACE FOR OUR MAGIC TO COME UP AND SHINE HER LIGHT. SHES ALREADY IN US. WE DONT NEED MORE MAGIC, WE JUST NEED TO REMEMBER HER.

THOSE WHO GIVE BIRTH are surrounded by messaging to get your body back the moment they leave the hospital, and magazines make us believe our New Years resolutions should center around making ourselves smaller. We are led by advertisers and media in general to work for some predetermined desirable size and shape from the time we are preteens until we are elders. Size-striving is not only physically exhausting but also mentally and emotionally draining. We can take a path to create a different world. What if, at the top of our resolution lists, we place our dreams and healthy goalsincluding supporting the bodies that take care of us in ways that our brains cant comprehend?

WHAT IF WE EMBRACE OUR VERY REAL AND PRESENT MAGIC IN EVERY STAGE INSTEAD OF CLINGING TO THE PAST (OR UNATTAINABLE) VERSIONS OF OURSELVES? JUST THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES.

WE LIVE IN A LOUD, FAST-MOVING, DIGITAL WORLD where anyones opinion of us can land at our feet. If we are not careful, we may pick it up and take it in as truthfocusing on the thoughts and words of others who may not be aligned with the strength we need, in the way we need it shared. Thats why one of the biggest acts of self-care we can take is building a village of supportive people around us and keeping that safety net close.

OUR LIVES WILL CHANGE WHEN WE SEEK OUT AND FIND PEOPLE WHO WILL ALWAYS REMIND US THAT WE ARE WORTHY OF LOVE AND CAREEVEN ON DAYS WE MAY DOUBT IT OURSELVES.

MOVEMENT IS SUCH A SACRED AND BEAUTIFUL THING. It shows us how capable our bodies are and offers numerous mental health benefits. However, it can also be used as a weapon against ourselves. Early in our lives, we may have picked up the idea that movement is only connected with the intent to lose weight. An unhealthy, unrealistic relationship with moving our bodies may grow. Instead of aspiring to move our bodies because it is good for our well-being, we can unconsciously strive to move our bodies to punish ourselves for what we have eaten. But we have the power to decouple movement from diet culture.

IF WE CAN PROMISE OUR BODIES, DAILY, THAT WE WILL USE MOVEMENT AS A MEANS TO FEEL GOOD AND AS A FORM OF SELF-LOVE, WE CAN NURTURE A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY we get the idea that table space is limited and were battling for the last seat. We start to believe that if there is space for her, there is no space for us. But this isnt a game of musical chairs or the truth in our lives. Not only does this view damage our relationships with each other, but it also limits us from seeing that there is always a seat for us at the table in whatever style fits us authentically and empowers us the most. Lets celebrate whenever another sister takes her own beautiful step and carry that energy into the steps were dreaming of taking as well. Well move forward together.

WE ARE NOT EACH OTHERS COMPETITION, DESPITE WHAT THE MEDIA AND PATRIARCHY HAVE LED US TO BELIEVE. WE ARE EACH OTHERS INSPIRATION AND REMINDERS OF WHAT CAN BE TRUE FOR US, TOO.

LOOK AT YOU HERE, TAKING UP SPACE as you are, from where you are, in a place you deserve to stand. Your physical presence says it all. We can release the person, people, even voices in our heads that told us along the way that we dont deserve to take up space. We can let go of whatever made us feel like we have to apologize for our thoughts, feelings, and desires. We never need to apologize for any of it or carry the narratives of too big or too much. Our bodies show up like only ours can, not someone elses. And we shine wherever we go.