“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” — Edith Wharton
">Skip to content
  • Home
  • About Susan
  • Psychologist
  • Susan’s Blog
  • Press
  • Contact Us
« Dr. Susan Rudnicki featured in April’s Atlanta Parent Magazine
Post-New-Year’s-Resolution Pitfall: The Struggle With Adherence »
May 3, 2011

Peace, Love & Pure Fashion… You are your Mother’s Daughter

Susan tableThis past Sunday, I participated in the Peace, Love & Pure Fashion show at the Buckhead Theater to benefit Bert’s Big Adventure. Bert Weiss, the popular radio host from Q-100, launched his eponymous non-profit organization to allow children ages 5 to 12 with a chronic or terminal illness, to experience a weekend with their families at Walt Disney World®.

I got involved with Pure Fashion because I thought the event sent a good message: To promote healthy body image and self-awareness for teenage girls, while helping them choose fashion that is age appropriate.  That message is especially relevant for me, as the mother of a pre-teen girl and the inspiration behind the launch of my new Get Fit 4 Girls fitness class. I started Get Fit 4 Girls, so girls at the pivotal ages of 8-12 get a positive introduction to fitness when they’re young. By starting early, my goal is for girls to equate exercise with fun so they develop healthy habits over a lifetime. (We all know how much harder it is when you get older to kick start an exercise program!)

As a vendor at the event, I set up my table with literature about Get Fit 4 Girls, and other elements of my business, from the psychology side to personal training. There was an immediate sense of camaraderie among the other vendors at the event. Everyone seemed to share a common link — women in their 30’s and 40’s who are having a hard time finding time for themselves because of juggling busy families.

Susan girl

Those are the moments when I feel I have the chance to empower them as women — because a healthier mother means a healthier family. There is simply NOT a magic bullet or a standard formula to apply to everyone. I try to encourage busy women to find structure for their lifestyle and recognize the power they have to change their bodies and their lives! It just takes one change to begin the momentum to put other change into effect.

One woman stopped at my table to ask me about personal training. She told me she felt guilty investing any money in herself to improve her body or her appearance, even though she was unhappy with her weight. She said, “I should be humble and I shouldn’t be vain, because if I’m looking too pretty or taking too much care of myself, then I’d be selfish.”

This is how I responded: “YOU DESERVE to take care of yourself. When are you ready to start?” Developing a positive and SELF-confident (not a synonym for SELFish, by the way) view of yourself is the best way to encourage the same things in your children. Our daughters will emulate us — for better or for worse. Ultimately, fashion won’t mean a thing, unless she can wear it with confidence! And isn’t that what Peace, Love & Pure is all about?

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.
Susan Rudnicki, Ph.D. Is a clinical health psychologist, certified personal trainer, certified exercise instructor, and wellness speaker. She has a successful private therapy practice and personal training business and is a group exercise instructor in the Atlanta area. She presents wellness information to various organizations and is a freelance writer, addressing these specialty topics.
« Dr. Susan Rudnicki featured in April’s Atlanta Parent Magazine
Post-New-Year’s-Resolution Pitfall: The Struggle With Adherence »

Post a Comment

Your email is never published nor shared. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

*
*

  • Categories

    • Family (15)
    • Fatherhood (5)
    • Fitness (11)
    • Inspiration (3)
    • Motherhood (5)
    • Society (14)
    • Susan (1)
    • Testimonials (3)
    • Uncategorized (2)
    • Video (5)

    Archives

    • April 2021 (1)
    • December 2019 (1)
    • January 2019 (1)
    • January 2018 (1)
    • July 2017 (1)
    • December 2016 (1)
    • June 2016 (1)
    • July 2013 (1)
    • November 2012 (2)
    • July 2012 (1)
    • March 2012 (1)
    • February 2012 (1)
    • December 2011 (1)
    • November 2011 (1)
    • September 2011 (1)
    • July 2011 (2)
    • June 2011 (1)
    • May 2011 (1)
    • April 2011 (1)
    • February 2011 (1)
    • January 2011 (2)
    • December 2010 (1)
    • November 2010 (4)
    • October 2010 (2)
    • September 2010 (1)
    • August 2010 (3)
    • July 2010 (1)
    • June 2010 (1)
    • May 2010 (1)
    • April 2010 (1)
    • March 2010 (1)
©2023 Susan Rudnicki, Ph.D.