She’s a veteran, she’s a mom, and she’s #AerieREAL! Sadie Strong has learned to embrace her body through all of its stages. Read on below to see how Sadie tries to pay it forward while keeping it #AerieREAL in her everyday life.
Has being a mom affected how you feel about your body?
When I was pregnant I embraced my baby bump. I wore a bikini, showed it off with crop tops and everything. I thought it was the best body I had ever had. Honestly, in the back of my mind I was worried about what others were going to think of me and my post pregnancy body. “Was I going to bounce back?” “ What if I didn’t?” Now, being almost a year post birth I put all of those questions to bed. The body I have, my son loves to cuddle with and take naps on. If anything, being a mom has made me more comfortable with the appearance of my body because I know the amazing things it’s capable of doing.
What’s your advice for someone who seeks balance in their life?
I believe balance is like an internal scale, weighing the options on how you live your life.
When you put outside world opinions on one side of the scale instead of your own thoughts, opinions and needs, you have to try a lot harder to balance your scale. I believe you need to truly put your own happiness first to have balance in your life. It’s a lot easier to balance yourself and be happy when you are not trying to please strangers as well.
Big or small, how do you pay it forward?
I truly try and pay it forward as often as I can. Usually in small cute ways whether it’s for my loved ones or strangers. This is silly but often when I get coffee in a drive through I pay the persons behind me also just because I know it will make them smile. For my kids I like to leave surprise notes around their rooms, or in their backpacks at school to remind them how smart and amazing they are or send them little jokes. I love to give people a small moment of happiness because life isn’t always easy, but I believe a smile goes a long way and can get you through a day.
What makes you #AerieREAL?
I’m #AerieREAL because I am my TRUE self and I choose to be me. Every curve, scar, smile, and feeling! I am enough just the way I am. I am a mom and disabled veteran, and being able to accept my body and myself for who I am, allows me to live my best life and be Role Model for positivity and self love.
Want to learn more about our latest #AerieREAL photo shoot? Read about it here!
I totally love aerie and am a huge believer that every woman should feel amazing about themselves. I would love to somehow become involved in this amazing company to keep promoting women. How can I do this? I’ve always wanted to be an advocate for all the beautiful women in the world but never felt like I had the tools to do so. Any advice?