Sunday Inspiration: Choose

Sunday Inspiration: More Than We Were Told

Sunday Inspiration: As Though My Life Depends Upon It

Sunday Inspiration: How You Love Yourself

Monday Musings: Body Image

 How do you feel about your body?  

I admit that I have spent far too much of my life with negative feelings about mine.  An endless litany of "that part is too big", "that part is too small", "that part is too jiggly", "that part could be better".  From my hair to my hips, from my nose to my legs.  I haven't been my body's best friend. 

As we reach a certain age, our bodies begin to change again.  I know I have felt it happening. Things are getting wrinkly.  Some things aren't as firm as they used to be.  I've put on weight, even in some areas where I never carried weight in the past.  It's easy for those old negative feelings to fill our heads. 

I have made a conscious decision to start trying to counter those self-defeating thoughts with more appreciative and affirming ones.  When I catch myself looking at my body with critical eyes, I make a point of thinking about things that I appreciate about it and can be grateful for. 

My body is unique, designed especially to house my spirit and for the purpose I was created to fulfill.

My body grew and nurtured 2 babies for 9 months each.  And continued to feed them after they were born. 

My body is adaptive and is always changing depending on the season, the environment, and the season of life that I am in. 

My body has fought off numerous viruses and bacterial infections over the years.

My body heals itself when wounded.

My body is healthy enough to do most things I want to do.

My body is always at work.  My heart is always beating. My lungs are always breathing. My hair and nails are always growing. Never taking a break. 

My body has held up despite all the things I did to it in my younger years (smoking, not getting enough sleep, etc) 

My eyes have shown me beautiful, incredible, funny, sad, and touching things every day.

My mouth can taste amazing foods for me to enjoy.

My hands can work a crochet hook and yarn to create beautiful and useful things.

What do you appreciate about your body?

Weighty Matters

I have seen a lot of posts on social media recently about loving yourself no matter what your weight and how being overweight doesn't equal being unhealthy.  These have brought up a lot of thoughts and feelings for me.  

First - I one hundred percent agree that you should love yourself no matter what your weight is.  Your value is not equal to how much you do, or do not, weigh at any given time.  You are SO much more than that.  No doubt about it.  

Where I start to struggle is the insistence that weight doesn't affect health.  Maybe, for you, that is true.  If so - that's awesome and I am truly happy for you.  You carry on being your amazing, beautiful self!

But for many of us (me - for example), our weight most definitely has an effect on our health.  As I have seen the numbers on the scale go up, there has also been an increase in numbers that are hurting my health- such as cholesterol and A1C.  There is a history of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and kidney problems in my family, which can be aggravated by being overweight and those numbers are a warning sign that my risks are increasing.  

So - Yes, for me, being overweight does equal unhealthy.

I also notice other, less concerning, problems with my feet, legs, and back aching, my energy levels decreasing, and even my asthma seems to flare up more when my weight goes way up.  

This is why I am trying to lose weight.  

No, it doesn't mean that I don't love myself.  I'm not doing it to meet some ideal of the perfect size or to have a hot bod.  And if I only managed to get the other numbers where they need to be and didn't lose all the weight - I would be ok with that.  

I choose to write and post about my journey to share my experience and keep myself accountable.  It also helps me to feel that by sharing my story,  perhaps I can give support to others going through the same experience.

If you are on a similar journey to lose weight and get healthy, I would love to hear from you in the comments!  Share what is working for you, or tell me a little about what you have been struggling with.

Sunday Inspiration: It Doesn't

Sunday Inspiration: Don't Let It Be You

Self-Care Wednesdays

When your phone battery starts getting low, I'm willing to bet that you immediately start looking for a way to recharge it.  Am I right, or am I right?  I know.  I'm the same way.  So, why do we so often run around with our batteries on low without stopping to recharge?

I've started trying to take time one day a week to give myself a little TLC.  I know a lot of people have a Self Care Saturday, but for me it's usually Wednesday.  I like doing it mid-week while everyone else is out of the house and it's just me, myself and I.

I usually do a clarifying wash to remove any buildup from my hair, if needed.   Followed by a good deep conditioning treatment.  Sometimes it's a store bought treatment.  Sometimes I create my own with a mixture of my regular conditioner, coconut oil and honey or avacado, banana, coconut oil and honey.

I may also paint my nails or apply a face mask.

I think it's so important for each of us to take a little time to be nice to ourselves.  Maybe your thing isn't a beauty treatment or two.  Maybe you prefer to go for a hike, or a bike ride.  You could do some meditation (this is usually another part of my self-care Wednesdays - as well as a few other days of the week)  You can draw, or paint, or write.  Color in a coloring book.  Sit outside in the sunshine.  Savor a cup of tea.  Read your Bible.  Read some other book.  

Do whatever it is that refreshes your soul.  

Sunday Inspiration: The Love You Give

You Can't Talk To Me That Way

"You are so fat!"

"That outfit looks terrible on you!

"Your hair looks awful!  You can't do anything with it."

"You are such a loser."

"You are a total mess."

"Nobody notices anything you do.  Why even bother?"

"You can't do anything right!"

I  going to guess that if you had a "friend" who spoke to you that way, you wouldn't be friends for very long.  In fact, you probably wouldn't want that person around at all!

Photo Credit (click here)

Now, how often do you say one or more of these things to yourself?  (Be honest!)  

Why is it OK to talk to yourself that way?  What makes us feel that it's alright to say hurtful things about ourselves?  Things we would never dream of saying to another person.

Being humble doesn't mean speaking in a demeaning way about yourself.  It means knowing Who and Where your value comes from.

Sweet sister, you are a daughter of the King.  You were created in His image. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)  You have value. (Luke 12:6-7)  You are precious, chosen, and loved.

Treat yourself as the beloved, worthy, precious woman you are!

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