09/09/2026
I am Liz.
Mum of 6 – three who came to me later in life and are now grown; one who was just too little to stay on this Earth and my two smallest loves, 2 yrs and 3.5 yrs.
When you become Mum the title sticks for life, no matter what. Other titles we have may come and go or change over time. Traveler, teacher, wife, adventurer, mentor, colleague, student, station-hand, volunteer, animal lover, the list goes on and I wear them with pride. But then there's the titles we don't speak of - dyslexic, anxious, binge eater, depressed, PTSD, ADHD, treatment seeker, medication taker, obese. All of them are a part of me too, but they feel uncomfortable, heavy, even shameful.
This experience of baring all for Women's Health Week is terrifying, but in a good way. It feels like the perfect push outside of my comfort zone and helping me to move beyond the discomfort. I’m learning that my body tells a story — of motherhood, mental health, resilience, change, healing, and survival. Not only am I learning to love it for all that it has carried me through, but also to honour it as the amazing vessel that it is. The surgical scars, the sagging skin, the stretch marks, the other scars; they are all just a part of my story.
My story of Binge Eating Disorder spanning decades.
My story of weight loss and weight gain. On repeat. Endless diets, exercise regimes, surgeries, therapy, dietitians, pills and more recently injections.
My story of depression and anxiety.
My story of pregnancy and birth.
My story of neurodivergence – dyslexia diagnosed early and ADHD diagnosed late.
Sharing these parts of me can be uncomfortable, but I have discovered that when I do share other's open up too. We are reminded that we aren't in this alone. Everyone has a story, let's work together to remove the shame that we tend to assign to them.
Life isn't always smooth sailing, but together it is easier to navigate the storms. Build compassion.
