“Everybody has a part of her body (or face) that she doesn’t like, but I’ve stopped complaining about mine because I don’t want to critique nature’s handiwork… My job is simply to allow the light to shine out of the masterpiece.”
– Alfre Woodard, actress
When I see a new baby, all I can think is what a masterpiece. Everything beautifully assorted, uniquely laid out. Why is it that we can’t see our adult selves that way?
I love this quote and I love being in my forties. I see the masterpiece in everyone with all the quirks and flaws and believe in letting the light shine out. I apologize completely for just how flakey that sounds- (the only drug I have had this morning is coffee) – but I really see it.
How do you view yourself? What thing have you overcome to see the masterpiece of you? What holds you back from wearing the pin in this post every day?
sometimes more like 50-50…lol…i think i shall try to be a better friend to myself. maybe that’s a start for something big!
80-20, julie?
if everything was perfect life would be pretty boring, i think. loving yourself is hard, probably because you know yourself best! there certainly are days that i wouldn’t call myself 🙂
all of this is very true and yes sometimes it is easier and sometimes it is not quite so. But like everything it is an 80-20 rule right?
It’s funny, we were talking at dinner last night about who loves who in the family, and my daughter asked me, “Do you love yourself, mommy?” I answered, honestly, “Depends on when you ask me.”
Really, it does. Depend, that is. Some days, I know I’m not doing my best. I’m not being the person I want to be, or the best person I can be. Sometimes I feel petty or cranky or don’t have time for people I love like I should. Sometimes I’m selfish. And in those times, well, I can’t say I love that.
Other times, I know I’m essentially a good person, and I try to cut myself the slack I think anyone deserves, and then, I’m all good.
when you know a person you know about how they see themselves because it is in everything they do and everything they say. I could have guessed that you wear the pin proudly, miss grumble. Bravo!
I’m still a work in progress, but I love myself more now that I ever have, I think. I’m okay with how I look (mostly) and I’m okay with how I am (mostly). It’s all good… I’m gonna love the view from 40 even more – I know it. And I figure, by the time I’m 50, ain’t nobody gonna tell me nuthin’ ever again, you know?
Good post, Village. xox