It feels like just weeks ago Amy Winehouse succumbed to drugs, alcohol and anorexia, and here we are again.
Losing Whitney Houston feels different – I grew up with her. She was my age – 48. It is just so sad. The thought of Whitney leaving this planet, submerged in a tub, makes me well up with tears.
Although the cause of her death is still unknown, it is well-known that addiction was a big part of her life. First Michael Jackson, then Amy and now Whitney.
What is especially sad to me is that things could have been different. Self-love, self-worth and asking for help can bring people back from the brink of death. I know – I was there myself.
100 lbs. overweight, addicted to food, to alcohol and self-hatred, I contemplated suicide daily – jumping off The Golden Gate Bridge, to be precise. It was only when I realized I could not do it alone, that somewhere deep down I loved myself enough to reach out and ask for the help I so desperately needed, that I was able to step back from the edge. With the help of others and with determination to live, I turned my life around.
In the song “The Greatest Love Of All”, Whitney belted out, “Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all”. The song, written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed, and its message are so profound. It is what I learned through my own transformation and what I have been practicing ever since – how to truly fall in love with myself, warts and all. It is tragically ironic that Whitney herself could not actually embrace her words and get help. She was loved and adored by millions, but fame is meaningless if self-love is absent.
Most of all, Whitney’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, will be in my thoughts. “I believe the children are our future,” Whitney sang. “Teach them well and let them lead the way/Show them all the beauty they possess inside/Give them a sense of pride to make it easier…” Imagine if we all could do this for ourselves. It takes effort and dedication, but it’s worth it. It’s a world worth striving for.
The only good thing to possibly come out of this tragedy is that it wakes all of us up to the need for self-love and self-care. By living with self-love, which includes knowing when you need a helping hand, we can always find hope and light. We can all find our own greatest love.
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Weight Release & Body Image Coach Laura Fenamore is on a mission to guide women around the world to love what they see in the mirror, one pinky at a time, so they can unlock the secrets to a healthy weight and start loving their lives as soon as possible.
Her popular Body Image Mastery program is celebrated by hundreds of women who have lost weight, reclaimed self-esteem, and started bold, happy lives with Laura and her proven programs as their guide.
Having overcome her own battle with addiction, obesity, and eating disorders, Laura released over 100 pounds 24 years ago to begin a journey to guide other women to live more joyous, balanced lives. The author of the forthcoming book Weightless: 7 Tools to Love Your Body (and Lose Weight For Good) and a frequent contributor to local and national media – including First for Women, Ladies Home Journal, the Dr. Pat Show and blog contributor on Betty Confidential, Daily Love and Positively Positive. Laura believes that self-love and self-care is where the transformation begins. Learn more about her programs, invite her to speak or contribute to your program or conference, or place pre-orders for her book today at OnePinky.com.
