Spotlight – I AM NOT! by Rachel Boehm @rachelboehm #memoir #abuse #bullying
Synopsis
I am NOT!
When enough of the world comes at you, telling you you’re nothing, you believe. You become what you believe. You become until the pain of becoming is too great to bear. You constantly ask yourself: What if I don’t know the answer? What if I’m wrong? What if they know I’m wrong? What if they laugh? What if fearing failure makes you fail? You’re faced with a choice. To stay. Or to change. Or to end. If you’re lucky, enough love begins seeping through, lighting a path to change.
This is the story of I Am NOT!, a memoir of triumph over verbal and emotional abuse, bullying, disordered eating, and societal norms. A journey of self-deprecation and the promise of continued growth. An anecdotal warning of the challenges kids, teens, and adults still face today.
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Praise
Brutally honest, beautifully empowering, and haunting in how many of our own lives’ bits and pieces we can see in Rachel’s journey. – Kristen Caldwell, High School Library Media Specialist
I Am Not is more than a memoir. It’s a mirror for all of us. Rachel’s reflections of who she was, is, and strives to be, resonate with all of us. Her recollections vividly transport the reader from our most vulnerable to our most victorious and serve as a reminder that we are all growing, learning, and becoming our best selves. ~ Marla Zack, Entrepreneur
With each vignette, we feel the impact of the heartbreaking reality of a society that unapologetically tells us that we are ‘not good enough’. Yet through Rachel Boehm’s deeply human and emotionally vulnerable story, we are reminded of the beauty in resilience and are inspired to begin our own journey toward unconditional self-love. ~ Alison Morogiello, National Certified Counselor
About the Author
Rachel Boehm is an award-winning journalist, turned workplace wellness organizer and advocate. Her experiences with school and workplace bullying, fat shaming, disordered eating, perfectionism, and verbal and emotional abuse began at a young age and continued into her late-twenties.
Embracing a survivor’s mindset, Boehm now views her journey as a calling to transform the way individuals and organizations view well-being, the beauty of the human body, metrics of success, and the fragility of time.
Boehm was raised in Austin, Texas. A love for the fine arts, film and television took her to Southern California for undergraduate studies and to pursue a career in the industry.
A quarter-life crisis fueled by the tumultuous nature of the industry and a realization of society’s flawed definitions of beauty and success, sent her on a multi-year soul-searching quest. She traveled back to Austin, then on to the UAE, Syria, Jordan, Europe, and New York City, before accepting a graduate studies scholarship with American University in Journalism and Public Affairs. Following commencement, she moved to Northern Virginia.
This journey is detailed in her memoir I Am NOT, which in many ways provides the backstory for her 2018 self-published collection of quips and lessons learned, Tripping in Public.
Today, Boehm works at an individual and organizational level to change the dialogue around the workplace well-being experience. She shares her story and works to help others: redefine success and beauty; develop mindfulness and self-compassion; and embrace the art of the “always something” mindset.
Through her many endeavors (day job, side hustle, and private practice), Boehm seeks to help everyone bring their best selves to work and life, and to truly love the skin they’re in. You can learn more about Boehm and her work at YesYou.Co, and connect with her directly via Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. You can join her YesYou Community on Facebook.
