07/22/2026
Three summers ago at age 50 I went to a wilderness retreat with no electricity or running water. I attended because I wanted to challenge myself to live beyond my comfort zone. Ironically, I had been in LA, Mecca of consumerism, just 24hrs prior, surrounded by the “beautiful people”. It’s enough to pull even the strongest soul back into the comparison trap. So when I was in this rustic setting, I decided that I would fully surrender this “ideal” self-identity that I had become attached to & allow myself to be stripped down bare. No showers, no make up, no mirror, just raw & natural. As with many women, due to societal pressures & self-imposed need for approval, it feels very vulnerable to have no mask to hide behind. On day 3 of sleeping in a tent with mice scurrying around, I met a beautiful former model who owns an agency. She asked me, “have you ever considered modeling?” I let out a scoffing chuckle of disbelief.
“Nope.” I answered but something in me screamed GO FOR IT! I’ve been booking fun, collaborative, creative jobs ever since!
Now this story is not to brag that I get to play professional dressup & meet cool creative people in fun locations (that’s the bonus & I’m very grateful), what I hope to convey is this; as I’ve learned to surrender the attachments to identity & the weight of mine & other people’s opinions, I came to know that I have always had “it”.
If that sounds arrogant let me put it to you this way: it’s in the letting go of the thing we believe we need in order to validate our value & to choose instead to see our inherent worth, that we end the separation from “it” & realize we had it all along.
By believing you aren’t “that” or you lack “this”, YOU keep it from you. When you let go of the want, you realize you HAVE.
Whatever that “it” is for you, it’s calling to you because it’s for you! Once we let go of the search for validation we step into conscious creation and that’s when the magic begins. We are here to express & experience life.
Summer of Self Love was designed to show you how to do this for yourself. You can HAVE the love you desire for yourself & it WILL look beautiful on you!
https://www.nataliereimeranderson.com/connect