Amy Purdy

Journey to Self-Acceptance

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SELF-ACCEPTANCE

Self-Acceptance Is A Journey!

I just launched a 6-Week journey to Self-Acceptance in my Life Inspired Series Workshop. The conversation with our first guest, 2X Ironman athlete Turia Pitt was incredible!

Turia is a two-time Ironman, motivational speaker, author, podcaster, wife, and wonderful mother. In 2011, she suffered severe burns to 65% of her body while competing in an ultramarathon in Western Australia. She has experienced so much and is an incredible light in this world. This is why I wanted her to open the workshop!

In our conversation, Turia described waking up in the hospital and realizing the immense cost of losing her physical abilities and the challenge of learning just how difficult everyday tasks can be. There were so many takeaways from the workshop and I want to share a few of those things with you.

“People look at others’ lives and see the highlight reels, but I don't think that's reflective of anyone's life. I think, we have really great days, really amazing days, days that we feel wonderful about ourselves. We also have other days, where we feel sad, overwhelmed, I think they're both part of this journey we call life. We don't get to cherry-pick." "We've got to be able to take both of them" as they come. "It's important to validate yourself." create space to process negative thoughts and pain. "It's really helpful, to just acknowledge, if you're going through something hard, just telling yourself, what I'm going through right now is really hard."

- Turia Pitt

This resonates with me because I think if we only see the highlights of everyone else’s life, we build a perception that we’re the only person struggling and that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Our mentors are still humans, they have their own struggles. Some days are easier for me than others. It might be less or more than others, but it’s still significant to the person experiencing it. 

Turia also talked about tips and tools that can help us navigate our self-acceptance journey.

"I have always compartmentalized, and it's, I guess it's a self-preservation thing. If I sat there every day thinking about everything that I've been through all of the time, I wouldn't be very happy." What I do instead is "put it all in a little box, and I say to myself, we can think about that tomorrow at 3pm. But I've got a really busy day today."

- Turia Pitt

It’s good to be reminded that we always have control over what we give our mental energy to. To know that we can create a space to process how we feel and think about our situation. By scheduling time, we can avoid dwelling on our issues while also processing them in a productive way.

It’s been several days and I’m still just blown away by this experience. Lindsey Stirling will be joining us on May 4th. If you’d like to join us, registration is still open, but not for long!

If you’re interested in learning more, you will find all the details here: https://amypurdy.com/self-acceptance-workshop/

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Amy and Stef Purdy on her Wedding day

My Dad Gave Me Life Twice!

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LIFE EXPERIENCES

My Dad Gave Me Life Twice!

When I found out I needed to have a kidney transplant, I was 20 years old. Standing in my bedroom, I fell to the floor on my knees and absolutely sobbed.

I begged God (or whoever was in charge) to bring my kidneys back. I was adamantly against having a kidney transplant because I was struggling to wrap my head around the loss of both my legs. Adding a kidney transplant to what I had already survived felt soul-crushing. It just felt like too much for one person to handle.

It also made me realize that my health was everything, and at that moment, a transplant felt like a complete loss, not a path forward.

I remember thinking “This wasn’t supposed to be my life! I was supposed to travel and snowboard and live a full and happy life!”

Little did I know just how full, happy, and healthy my life would go on to be!

My Dad donated a kidney to me the same week as my 21st birthday. (He was almost a perfect match!)

Amy and Stef Purdy Kidney Transplant

I’m grateful and fortunate that my body accepted the kidney right away. His gift has not only allowed me to live a full life, but also a healthy life as a professional athlete. In fact, eventually, I became healthier than I was before my transplant!

My dad, literally, gave me life twice!

April is Organ Donation Month. My dad and I are celebrating 22 years. How amazing is that?!

Learning that there are certain things we cannot change is a lesson that life has taught me more than once. Struggling to accept a kidney transplant is just one example. It also taught me the power of self-acceptance.

Deep down, I knew that If I accepted this kidney mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually, then my body would accept it physically.

For many of us, accepting our lives and bodies is one of the hardest things we learn to do. Yet, acceptance can make all the difference in how we live our lives, how we talk to ourselves, and how we find happiness. The better we feel about our life, the better we can step into the world!

This is why I’ve created a LIVE online Self-Acceptance Workshop starting April 25th. I’ve scheduled a powerful and inspiring group of guests including Selma Blair, Lindsey Stirling, and Rachel Platten to create a transformational experience that will leave us all feeling a bit more loved.

If you’re interested in learning more, you will find all the details here: https://amypurdy.com/self-acceptance-workshop/

P.S: If you haven’t already, you can elect to become and organ donor by updating your donor status with the Department of Motor Vehicles. You never know whose life you might save!

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Scars are part of our stories

Our Scars Are Part Of Our Stories

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Today, I’m reminded of the Kintsugi tradition. It’s an art form that involves repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum.

The philosophy is that objects that have been broken and repaired become more beautiful and valuable because of their imperfection. Rather than trying to hide or disguise the cracks, kintsugi emphasizes and celebrates them, turning what might be seen as a flaw into a unique and beautiful feature.

Like Kintsugi, my scars are a part of my story. They have taught me to embrace the strength and resilience that created them. They also remind me of how far I’ve come. I wouldn’t be who I am today without them.

As we enter the summer season, I want to encourage you to embrace your scars and all that they represent. Instead of feeling self-conscious or ashamed, try to see your scars as a badge of honor – a testament to your strength and resilience. After all, scars are a sign that you have overcome something difficult and come out the other side.

Of course, summer can bring its own challenges, especially when it comes to body image and feeling confident in our skin. But I believe that by embracing our scars – both physical and emotional – we can find a newfound sense of confidence and self-acceptance. 

So whether you’re heading to the beach, the pool, or simply spending time outdoors, here are three things that have helped me wear my scars proudly. I hope they can help you too.

1. Celebrate

I used to look in the mirror and grieve the body I once had, but now I see scars that tell a story of survival and remind me of all that I have overcome. I see a kidney gifted to me by my father. I see legs that have fallen time and time again, but keep getting back up. I see hands that create, comfort, and soothe.

2. Educate Others

People will always make insensitive or hurtful comments, simply because they don’t understand your journey. When we take the time to educate those who will listen, we create a more accepting and understanding environment.

3. Seek Support

If you’re struggling to come to terms with your scars like I have, it can be helpful to seek support from others who have been through similar experiences. I’ve created amazing connections and friendships through support groups, my therapist, and close friends and family. It’s never too late to create, build, or grow a support system.