# @lifesadiscoball on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CgvLzTZsTr8
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/8939797-lifesadiscoball-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/72ab17f422.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-08-02T00:37:31.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Heather Petri (@heatherpetri) — https://gondola.cc/heatherpetri

## Caption

Day 34 - Coming Back to Ourselves

Who were you, before the world got to you? Before you were told to be quiet, be smaller, be less noticeable? Who were you before you heard, “Nice girls don’t ________(fill in the blank)? 

Intentionally and not, we lose our raw and innate spirits over the years. Through direct and indirect feedback, we cover ourselves with new outfits of expectation. Layer after layer. Until we don’t know who we are anymore.

As I turned 40, I really started to recognize all I’d lost over the years. I started to realize how far I’d strayed from who I inherently am and was created to be.

One of the most eye opening, reflective, instigating exercises I ever did was from a #BreneBrown and #Oprah course from Brené’s book, The Gifts of Imperfection.

My recollection is that we were to find a picture of ourselves from before the world got to us, my words not hers (forgive my inaccuracy if it’s present). And the picture should represent the spirit of who you wanted to come back to (again, my words of interpretation).

The picture I used was this first slide. Hair in a top knot, matching dress to hair ribbon, hand on my hip, and foundational sass represented.💁🏼‍♀️ Where did this little girl go? She was sooooo buried underneath so much. Expectation, trauma, shame, sadness, failure, and so on…

As I inch closer to 50 (it’s my birthday month y’all!), I realize how far I’ve come during my 40’s. How much I’ve undressed those layers of expectation and fear. How much more ‘naked’ I prefer to live - with authenticity, with mess, with mistakes, with realness, with imperfection, and with grace.

We learn until our last breath. I’m so grateful for that. I’ll continue to undress, shedding that which is heavy, that which I never asked for, that which will bring me closer to this girl here, and the one on the other slides too. The infant who was already sharing her voice, the girl singing while running, the proud one with personality to match the the height of the mountains behind her, and the girl who really likes her cup of java to add pep in her step - cuz sometimes life is tiring, ya know?
#day34 #50tofifty #gracefulwarrior #lifesadiscoball

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## Tags

brenebrown, day34, lifesadiscoball, gracefulwarrior, oprah, 50tofifty

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