I went on a wellness retreat this past weekend. It was a chance to step away from everyday life and focus on yoga, meditation and mindfulness. 

The experience was emotional and, at times, painful. But it was also restorative, relaxing and deeply healing. 

We spent time in nature, shared nourishing food and created a space completely free from judgment. It was a place where we could laugh, cry and simply be ourselves. By the end of the weekend, I had found a new circle of friends who offered strength, encouragement and understanding.

Many of our sessions focused on reflecting on the successes and challenges in our lives. We talked openly about how we see our bodies and how often we compare ourselves to society’s unrealistic ideas of “perfection.”

We shared our fears. We set goals. And we reminded each other that every one of us is a beautiful person. 

One exercise focused on personal affirmations — positive statements we can repeat to ourselves to slowly rewire our thinking and build self-belief. 

To help anchor those affirmations, we created special bracelets. Each one carried a personal message — a small token from the weekend filled with positive intention and energy to support us moving forward. 

Let me tell you about mine. 

I Love My Body 

My body is over 40 now. Like everyone else’s, it carries the inevitable signs of time — wrinkles, aches and changes I sometimes wish weren’t there. 

Too often I find myself comparing my body to people who are younger, or who seem somehow more “perfect.” Sometimes I worry that the people I love won’t see me as beautiful. 

But my body also tells a story. 

I have seven scars on my abdomen. 

Three from a surgery I had as a child. 

One from having my appendix removed. 

And three more from bringing two girls and a boy into the world by caesarean section.

I have very little “core” muscle left to speak of. But my tummy still works perfectly well. I love food — cooking it, sharing it and enjoying beautiful meals with friends and family. 

And I wouldn’t trade my beautiful children for anything. 

I am six feet tall, and I love the confidence and presence that brings when I walk into a room. My height is mostly in my legs, which means I will probably always need to buy trousers from specialty shops. 

But that’s okay. It’s part of who I am. 

My hair has always been one of my defining features. It’s long, and I’ve always loved it. 

A few years ago I started to feel like it was losing its brightness. Not grey — not yet — but not quite as vibrant as it once was. So I began dyeing it slightly lighter, just enough to feel more like myself again. 

Then about six months ago, something happened that made me stop and think. 

I was in the supermarket when my son noticed me picking up a box of hair dye. 

He reacted strongly. 

You see, he has red-blonde hair — what people in the UK often call “ginger”. I think it’s beautiful, but teenagers don’t always see it that way. He has experienced bullying because of it, and my husband and I have always tried to remind him that it’s a unique and wonderful part of who he is. 

Standing there in the supermarket aisle, he asked me a difficult question. 

Why wasn’t I accepting myself just as I am? 

He wondered if everything we had taught him about self-acceptance growing up was a lie. 

That stopped me in my tracks. 

So we made a deal right there in the grocery store. 

I would stop dyeing my hair and learn to accept it as it naturally is. And he would try to challenge the negative thoughts he had about his own hair colour. 

We would work on it together. 

Six months later, the dye is slowly growing out. I still catch myself noticing the roots sometimes. But I’m trying to stay strong and honour the promise I made. 

My body also lives with pain. 

A few years ago I injured my elbow, and it has never fully healed. I can’t hold anything heavier than a cup of tea in my right hand. 

This affects simple everyday things — fastening a bra with one hand, stirring a pot while cooking dinner, or even making ID bracelets as part of my business. 

I’ve tried steroid injections, physiotherapy and deep tissue treatments. Right now I’m going through shockwave therapy, which is one of the most painful treatments you can have in a bony area. 

Yesterday I had my third session. I sat there with tears streaming down my face while they delivered 2,500 electric shocks to my elbow. 

But it still hasn’t beaten me. 

I still care for my family. I still nurture wonderful friendships. And I’ve built a successful business despite this limitation. 

During the retreat, I made an important decision. 

It’s time to stop focusing on everything my body can’t do, and start appreciating everything it can. 

My body carries me through life. 

It has given me children. 

It allows me to experience love, friendship and joy. 

It may challenge me sometimes, but it also allows me to experience the world. 

And for that, I am grateful. 

So the affirmation on my bracelet is simple: 

I Love My Body 

It’s my daily reminder that I am strong. That I am beautiful. That I am exactly as I am meant to be. 

I am enough. 

We have also created a range of affirmation cards designed to help others build confidence and self-belief.

Because everyone deserves to feel comfortable in their own skin. 

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