I took my little men to the water park this week and we enjoyed a little bit of this...
and this...
You know what happened while I was enjoying my playtime with my miracles?
I walked by two very cute, young Mommies (I would like to consider are quite like myself) who proceeded to openly make fun of the winter white skin I am sporting these days.
I was shocked.
I wanted to turn around immediately and give them a piece of my mind, but I didn't.
I wanted them to know that I accept and love my skin just how it is. I wanted them to know that I was the healthier one for catching my 'Z's in a real bed ... not a tanning bed.
Although these thoughts did cross my mind, I continued to walk on, trying to ignore their laughter.
As I experienced this, I was immediately brought back to middle school with the frizzy hair and braces.
I don't remember the last time I felt so uncomfortable, belittled and put down.
The moment is passed and my self-esteem is not affected by it, but there is a reason I wanted to share this with you.
Do WE ever make others feel uncomfortable, belittled or put down whether publicly or privately?
Do we compare ourselves to others and rank each other by society's or the media's standards of what is worthy or beautiful?
I sure hope not.
None of us are perfect ... so I'm sure we have all been in the spot of those 'other cute Mommies' but you know what I think is the real problem?
Our OWN self-esteem
If we all loved ourselves ... truly loved ourselves for who we really are, we wouldn't ever feel the need or desire to belittle anyone else.
Now, I will be the first to admit that I struggle with truly loving and accepting myself ...
ALL aspects of myself ALL at the same time.
I think it is hard.
Whether we admit it or not.
But one thing is for sure ... I NEVER want to be the source of making someone feel the way I felt at the park!
So let's all come together and work on accepting ourselves and building our OWN self-esteem and in turn we will be able to accept and loves others for who THEY really are too!
As part of MY GOAL this week, today's focus will be on me.
I know that is a foreign concept to those of you who are Mommies, but that's what is on the agenda for today!
YOU!
So don't dwell on the unhappy things you find about yourself ...
focus on the gifts, on the things that really matter.
Maybe it will be the way your silky hair shines in the sun, the really great hug you gave someone who needed it, or your ninja skills in the kitchen.
Maybe it will be the way you really listened to someone today, efficiently organized a disaster area, or made someone feel loved and welcomed.
Whatever it is ... treasure it!
Don't keep yourself from greatness ... you deserve it!
Here are some inspiring words to get you motivated.
"To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself. "
~Thich Nhat Hanh
"We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light." ~Mary Dunbar
"Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one's own sunshine."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The hardest challenge is to be yourself in a world where everyone is trying to make you be somebody else."
~E. E. Cummings
"Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you will ever own. "
~Mary Schmich
I walked by two very cute, young Mommies (I would like to consider are quite like myself) who proceeded to openly make fun of the winter white skin I am sporting these days.
I was shocked.
I wanted to turn around immediately and give them a piece of my mind, but I didn't.
I wanted them to know that I accept and love my skin just how it is. I wanted them to know that I was the healthier one for catching my 'Z's in a real bed ... not a tanning bed.
Although these thoughts did cross my mind, I continued to walk on, trying to ignore their laughter.
As I experienced this, I was immediately brought back to middle school with the frizzy hair and braces.
I don't remember the last time I felt so uncomfortable, belittled and put down.
The moment is passed and my self-esteem is not affected by it, but there is a reason I wanted to share this with you.
Do WE ever make others feel uncomfortable, belittled or put down whether publicly or privately?
Do we compare ourselves to others and rank each other by society's or the media's standards of what is worthy or beautiful?
I sure hope not.
None of us are perfect ... so I'm sure we have all been in the spot of those 'other cute Mommies' but you know what I think is the real problem?
Our OWN self-esteem
If we all loved ourselves ... truly loved ourselves for who we really are, we wouldn't ever feel the need or desire to belittle anyone else.
Now, I will be the first to admit that I struggle with truly loving and accepting myself ...
ALL aspects of myself ALL at the same time.
I think it is hard.
Whether we admit it or not.
But one thing is for sure ... I NEVER want to be the source of making someone feel the way I felt at the park!
So let's all come together and work on accepting ourselves and building our OWN self-esteem and in turn we will be able to accept and loves others for who THEY really are too!
As part of MY GOAL this week, today's focus will be on me.
I know that is a foreign concept to those of you who are Mommies, but that's what is on the agenda for today!
YOU!
So don't dwell on the unhappy things you find about yourself ...
focus on the gifts, on the things that really matter.
Maybe it will be the way your silky hair shines in the sun, the really great hug you gave someone who needed it, or your ninja skills in the kitchen.
Maybe it will be the way you really listened to someone today, efficiently organized a disaster area, or made someone feel loved and welcomed.
Whatever it is ... treasure it!
Don't keep yourself from greatness ... you deserve it!
Here are some inspiring words to get you motivated.
"To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself. "
~Thich Nhat Hanh
"We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light." ~Mary Dunbar
"Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one's own sunshine."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The hardest challenge is to be yourself in a world where everyone is trying to make you be somebody else."
~E. E. Cummings
"Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you will ever own. "
~Mary Schmich
JOIN ME in my search for the "little things" about US
Let's hear what you treasure!
squeezingitallin@gmail.com
Let's hear what you treasure!
squeezingitallin@gmail.com
Posts
7 comments:
I've decided to be very proud of my perpetual farmer's tan this year. :) It's really just a part of who I am. It says I like working in my garden and playing with my kids outside, all in a modest way. Thanks for your inspiring post!
Your right, Sara, that farmer's tan is something to love! I'm so glad you joined me today!
Really? I bet I am whiter than you are. White pride? Wait, that's not right... That makes me sound racist. Whatever, I'm proud of my milky day-glow. Can't even get a farmer's tan.
My little thing today and yesterday: I'm making chicken stock from my freezer scraps (scraps of chicken and veggies I toss in bags in the freezer) and my house smells sooooooo good! Not really the weather for it but it still smells good!
Jessica, glad I'm not the only one sporting the milky glow! Wish I could sniff your air ... that sounds a little strange, you know what I mean!
Heather, You should post the video I found from one of my friends profiles on facebook. It talks about skin cancer. They are adults talking about what they would tell their 16 year old selves to do, wear sunscreen! Its on my profile if you want to. I put it on there in memory of my grade school/high school friend who lost her battle with melanoma.
Well said!
I hope the kids of those mommies don't hear them talking like that. :(
I wish I had ninja skills in the kitchen!
And I know, haha, that it was all for the kids and not for adults like me, but I really LOVED music time at primary Sunday. I totally got caught up in the fun. You are amazing.
Post a Comment