Kindness and self worth come from within, group tells girls

Eight days shy of having weight loss surgery one year ago, Leanna Alexander bravely stood in front of a group of Poplar Bluff Junior High girls to share her personal story to finding self love.

As a part of Chi & Company’s purpose to instill a sense of self-confidence in young women, founder Christy Frazier-Moore meets with a group of girls each month to discuss topics relating to them.

On Wednesday, during the final meeting of this school year, Alexander told the group her journey to self love was not what she thought it would be.

In nearly a year, Alexander shared she had lost almost 200 pounds. She is married to a good man of nearly 20 years, has two children, a job she enjoys and a big support group, but none of those things made her love herself.

“We are the only people who make us happy,” she said.

After having weight loss surgery and still not happy, Alexander said she realized it didn’t matter what someone’s hair looks like, how big they are or what clothes they are wearing.

“None of that matters because until you are happy in your own heart and head it changes nothing,” she said.

While there is nothing wrong with doing something that gives yourself a little confidence, Alexander reminded the girls to also put their self love into action.

Alexander suggested the young women list their qualities, whether they are good, bad or quirky.

“Don’t let others dictate your value and accept being you,” she added.

She also encouraged the girls to speak to themselves with love, as well as prioritize and reward themselves.

Before heading into the junior high school, Alexander asked her four closest friends what loving yourself meant to them.

Reminding the young ladies we don’t always see what others are struggling with, Alexander also learned something she had not realized from a friend of 20 years, after receiving her answer.

“Being comfortable in your own skin and in your head and knowing and not comparing yourself to everyone,” the message read. “But that doesn’t apply to me because I struggle everyday and don’t feel comfortable without makeup and I’m in my own head.”

Everyone is struggling with something, Alexander reminded the students.

Through her journey to find self love, Alexander has made a positive impression on her customers at Myrtle’s as well.

She was missed at the restaurant by one customer in particular while speaking to Chi & Company.

Alexander was told she is also what is positive for this particular customer, who was excited Alexander would be speaking at the junior high.

Still learning how to accept a compliment, Alexander told her customer it’s hard and she works on it daily, but there is nothing in this world that can control our happiness but ourselves.

If the young girls took only one item away from Alexander’s message, she hoped they would realize true beauty and self love comes from within rather than anything you do, like weight loss.

She also hopes the girls will be kind to others they come in contact with throughout life.

“I wish I could wave a wand and tell everyone to be a kind person and nice,” she said.

It has taken her 39 years to put together how to be a nicer and kind person, she said.

“I work on it every single day, so it’s hard for me to put into words for the girls,” she said on how to find their own self love. “I wish I could just tell them so they don’t have to go through the pains and struggles. It’s a learning process.”

As a way to reward the girls for their year of work in Chi & Company, Sonic donated 100 corn dogs for all the participants.

“If you learn nothing else from me this year, know you are beautiful, kind and loving and don’t be that mean girl,” Frazier-Moore told her group during the final meeting of the school year.