All You Need Is Love

Wiser words were never spoken (or sung in this case).  Love IS all we need to live a happy and fulfilling life.  What I'd like to know is WHY do we (and when I say we, I mean us women) have such a hard time giving ourselves the love we deserve?  We have no problem when it comes to loving our kids, our spouse our friends and our families.  But when it comes to ourselves we become our own worst critics. 

I started thinking about this last night as I got into the shower after my run.  I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and immediately focused on my belly.  I have a small pot belly.  Sometimes it's nice and flat (like once a month), sometimes (more often than not) there's a bump that turns into a roll that sticks out over the top of my shorts or pants.  I immediately grabbed it and thought "ugh, so gross".  But then I stopped myself.  I had read Lauren Fleshman's blog about keeping it real earlier that day and I thought "You know what...who cares if I have a pot belly?"  It is what it is.  Lauren has a point.  We put too much focus on trying fit into societies definition of "perfect".   We lose sight of what our bodies are actually capable of doing as women (like giving birth-whoa!)  We are fighting a losing battle when we do this.  We will never be happy.   So I asked myself:  Does it affect what my body is able to do?  No.  Do people that know me care that I have a bumpy belly?  No.  Does G love me any less because of this?  No. 

So why should I care? 

I shouldn't.  What I should do is show myself the same love that I show others.   Unconditional love.

I am perfectly imperfect and I have made the decision to LOVE that, pot belly and all.

 Happy Valentine's Day!