Something that I've known for awhile now, but has just recently really hit me hard in this new year is that it is so difficult to be healthy in college. If you're a person who lives in the dorm, this is even more of a challenge for you (I feel your pain). For those of you who think the freshman fifteen is a myth, you're in for a rude awakening. Everything is so incredibly new and it seems like the pace of life is at an all time fast. Along with this old idea, I have also discovered a very new outlook on this seemingly never ending problem. There are no excuses and if you want to be healthy, you will.

When I say healthy I don't mean drop everything you have ever known and go completely vegan and eat grass and cucumbers for the rest of your life and exercise until your body is worked to the breaking point. Because let's be honest, that's just not logical for all of us. We can't go from 0 to 100 that quickly because our bodies will hate us and we will pay the price in the end. Sometimes not working out for that day is the best choice and instead going to the beach will make you feel more alive. Sometimes a little sunshine and company are all your mind and body needs for a day. When I say healthy I mean being at peace with your mind, body, and soul. At peace; not struggling because you are trying to reach an unattainable idea of health. Be nice to yourself.

Being healthy has a very different meaning for all of us. The most important thing to recognize first is what your state of health is in this moment and what you would like to change about it. Some of you might want a six pack and others might just simply want to feel at peace with their current selves; healthy mind, healthy body. Because we should all be comfortable in our skin, which is so much easier said than done. So evaluate how you feel about your health and write down a list of what you want to change. This is about making you FEEL healthy. Set goals and work toward those each day by reflecting them in your actions.

For example, maybe one of the things on your list is making better choices with food during the week. Instead of grabbing chips for a snack in between classes, go for a piece of fruit. Then after a week from hell go grab a triple chocolate meltdown with an extra scoop of ice cream because honey you probably deserve it. Also, if chocolate makes you hot like it does to me, then you don't even need to workout. Only kidding, sweat first then chocolate or vice versa. It's called balance and food are love. Or if your goal is to feel more confident then wake up every morning, go to the mirror and tell yourself 3 things you love about yourself instead of nitpicking. WOW, PROGRESS! We can do it. This is going to be a slow process, there's no rushing it.

In some cases, this can be so hard to determine, what will help you be at peace that is. A huge shout out to the retired athletes out there, because I know how difficult it is to see your body go through drastic changes once a sport is no longer as prominent in your life. I used to see these changes in myself as a bad thing, a lacking of the following: a love for the sport, drive, and self-control. It was really difficult for me to come to terms with these changes, I was sad for a period of time just because I didn't look like I used to. I tried running on the treadmill for an hour for awhile and saw results, but I was still unhappy. Finally, I sat down and asked myself why I was doing this. Why do I want to run for something that is in the past? So I decided it wasn't about that anymore. I realized that one of the main reasons I loved running on the cross country team in high school (s/o to all you beauties) so much was because I was with people I loved, doing something we all loved, and we were outside away from the rest of the world for awhile. It felt like our time.

So I reminisced and then decided then that I would stop with the comparisons. I found new interests when I wasn't running as much. I learned that reading is one of my true loves, finding new music started a fire in me and that I do indeed love running, but for the simple pleasure of being outside. So I ran, but it was for the scenery and the passion I had for it, not for the results. It's easy to get attached to your physical self, but I learned to love what I had in my soul because the mirror couldn't mock that. It's all a huge learning experience. Things change and usually, it's for the better and for a very good reason.

Find the things in life that make your heart beat fast and weigh you down in the best way imaginable. Then don't let go. There is no reason we shouldn't feel the pressure of passion in our chest every single day. Play a song inside of yourself that you wouldn't mind putting on repeat. Always go where your heart beats a little faster, always run to the music. I'm running to the music. The music inside of myself has a melody of passion that I've never heard before. So be at peace with yourself. Whatever will make your heart soar, do that.