Amanda Lewis
“You can either live in war or in harmony with yourself. Just for today, I’m choosing harmony.”
So, who am I?
I am a 20-something year old in the middle of Missouri who works at Joann Fabric and Craft and comes home to her pet fish. Some of my favorite things are Taylor Swift, Disney, Animal Crossing, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe. I was recently crowned Miss Columbia and will be competing for the title of Miss Missouri in June.
Throughout college I struggled with anorexia, depression, self harm, anxiety, and everything else under that umbrella. While those struggles aren’t gone, I have learned how to turn them into something beautiful. Choose Harmony has given me a safe space for navigating recovery, and I hope it does the same for you.
What is Choose Harmony?
Choose Harmony was born out of the lowest time in my life. I was in a residential treatment center for my eating disorder, fighting for my life. One of the assignments in group therapy one day talked about finding harmony with our bodies and Choose Harmony became my mantra. The next thing I knew, I was out of treatment and ready to turn Choose Harmony into a movement.
Choose Harmony has 3 main goals:
Normalize. Recognize. Prioritize.
Normalize the Struggle – The first step to healing is to know that you are not alone. While 46% of Americans have a diagnosed mental illness, 100% of Americans have mental health. Choose Harmony is about normalizing the struggles that we all face and finding recovery together.
Recognize Diet Culture – A big part of Choose Harmony is fighting back against diet culture that has become so normalized in society. It is knowing that all bodies are good bodies and all food is good food. Thin does not equal healthy and you should never feel guilty for nourishing your body.
Prioritize Self Care – Taking time each day to do something you enjoy is not selfish, it’s essential. Whether it’s a long bubble bath with music and candles, or taking an extra five minutes in your car to prepare for the day, Choose Harmony celebrates all self care activities and teaches how to incorporate them into your day. You are never too busy for self care.
Choose Harmony 