~~Dear self,
Today, and for the rest of my days, I chose to love you, to cherish you, and to accept you just the way you are. Love, Me~~ Unknown
My words today aren't about quitting. They aren't about the joy I feel each morning or how thankful I am to have another day to breathe, to hug my family, to live. My words aren't about being kind to others or about reaching out to those who need help.
My words are about you. The one reading this. Truly personal and truly individual.
You. Did you look in the mirror this morning and grin? Did you get out of bed and give yourself a big hug as you stretched to welcome the day? Did you linger over a cup of coffee as you gazed out at the world, excited to start the day?
No? Too many thoughts of everything wrong with your life? Feeling lonely? Stressed? Scared? Lost?
Sometimes, as the years pass and we get busy making a life for ourselves....careers, college, families, bills....the true us gets lost in the shuffle. We do what we have to do, we sacrifice for those we are responsible for, and we put our heads down and plow ahead.
Then one day we notice we aren't happy. We aren't satisfied. And we are.....kinda old. What happened?
So this is for you.....the you who got lost somewhere in time. Stop. Simply stop for a while. Be still. And look at yourself. I know. You may not like the weight you gained. The fact that you haven't had a haircut in ages. The fact that your teeth are horrible because of years of smoking. Surface stuff only so don't worry about looks.....go past that and see into your heart, your soul.
There is the true you. The you that you need to nurture. The you that you need to free. Get to know that you...the one who longs to dance in a fountain. Or play the saxophone. Or paint the house burnt orange instead of the safe tan. How lovely you are!! How much fun!! How delightfully creative and intuitive!!
Why these words? Because life is a gift and you are here on earth...given this gift....and you must recognize your worth!! Life is a gift. Don't reject it. Don't dismiss it. Don't take it for granted. Don't be careless.
You need to learn to love yourself enough to bring back that true you. The you who has the heart of a child...happy, joyful, delighted with the world and all it's wonders. Growing up doesn't mean being lonely. Growing up doesn't mean being serious all the time. Growing up doesn't mean putting yourself on the bottom of your list of things to do.
You have the gift of life. Choose to use it...choose to delight in it....choose to be honored by it. Love yourself enough to live it.
Sheri
