I love me

Ok- here it is- the "What I love about me assignment" that I think at some time or another, we have all come across or been told to do to... I have to admit, I have never really done it- For some reason, I am ready!

It has taken me a long time to be ready to write this, and I think therapists have no idea how long it does take for us to be here because of the dark world we live in inside.... BUT, today, I feel like it!

My job lately has taken me on the road again, and I have had the opportunity to surreptitiously steal a few moments here and there at the beach, in the woods, in a park....and I suppose these thoughts reflect my out of doors connections a little bit (and too much sun on the brain), but here goes. Thank you for humoring me. It feels a little more self-centered than a post should (even for something as narcisistic as a blog in the first place!) But, I want to record this for my own posterity, and to demonstrate, just how good, it does feel, to simply FEEL GOOD.

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I love that I hear and see and know things that other people do not. I love that I feel more deeply than I should sometimes.

I love that my greatest weaknesses are my greatest strengths.

I love that I am alone right now, and learning to love silence.

I love, that my smile makes other people smile.

I love that I can codeswitch, and talk to anyone. I love that if you locked me in a room with anyone for an hour, I would leave knowing their life story.

I love that I periodically speak in 4 different (horrible) accents... and seem to be working on my brooklyn one- YO.

I love that I grew up poor, and know exactly what I need in life. I love that I need very little to be happy.

I love that things of beauty in nature and art deeply move and affect me: like the ocean, mountains, a sunset, a rainbow, a painting, or a poem. I recognize that they are ALL powers greater than myself. I can become completely lost in these things.

I love that I compulsively sing and my children do too now. I love that I know the words to songs nobody else knows. And my children do too now.

I love that people fall in love with my sons instantly, but are a little intimidated by my daughter. I love that I may be raising the next viking warrior queen.

I love that I actually do believe every answer in life can be found in the Wizard of Oz.

I love that sometimes, I think I have actually discovered the meaning of life, (hint- rent the Wizard of Oz)

I love that I have grown my grandfather's wine colored iris everyplace I have ever lived.

I love that I have an almost inexplicably insatiable curiosity.

I love that I do not believe in God, but I do believe that if there is one, God believes in me.

I love that I now know so many backroads in CT that it doesn't matter anymore when I get lost. Of course, I only know those roads from getting lost in the first place!

I love that I do not REALLY place much value on personal grooming. But, I also love that I feel good in my skin now and DO IT FOR MYSELF when I do decide to "clean up and step out".

I love that I am so good at my job my boss overlooks things like lapses in professional grooming, showing up at the wrong place at the wrong time and occasionally doing odd things like sticking my tongue out at co-workers or going on a political soapbox at an inopportune moment.

I love that I make ADHD look good.

I love that the strangest things bring tears to my eyes, like a flower left on a bench, or a strangers baby announcement.

I love that my daughter and I both are going to grow our hair out long together. I love that I am addicted to coloring my hair and don't really care what anyone else thinks, even when the result is a disaster.

I love that I never give up, well past even when I probably should.

I love that I am incapable of anger (despite all the therapy it has required! it is still a blessing!- refer to second point).

I love that I am a science fiction geek. For that matter, I love that I am a geek.

I love that I am most definitely weird, and quite possibly crazy.

I love that I have never, ever, lost my sense of humor.

I love that I am not afraid to say what everyone else is thinking.

I love that I have learned to live with my mistakes.

I love that little children come to me and warm up to me, even the ones that usually don't trust strangers.

I love that I can dance.

I love that people are my real addiction, that it is where I draw my energy from, and that I know that now.

I love that I have found 14 four leaf clovers (edited 6/5/09 19!) in my life, because I always know where to look.

I love that I can change a tire in less than 20 minutes.

I love that I am not a snob.

I love my midwestern work ethic (of course it makes up nicely for the ADHD).

I love that I am still passionate about my job, and people know that I am passionate about it too, and I make them passionate about what they do as well.

I love that I am complex, that there are sides of me nobody really knows about or understands and that I have the rest of my life to figure myself out. I love that I am ok with all of me, finally.

I love that I am a survivor. I love that more than once in my life, I have surprised people and people have said the phrase about me, "never judge a book by it's cover".

I love that despite everything, I still believe in true love.

I love that I am joyful.

I love that I AM a mother. That I live and breathe this role, that I wanted to be one since I was a little girl, and that my children each have a piece of me inside of them, and that I will BE a mother until the day I die.

I love that I get knocked down, but I always get back up again. I love that I give the word tenacity a whole new meaning.

I love that my core values are kindness, gratitude, and inclusion and I live by those values. I love that I know what my core values are.

I love me
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Find the path towards loving yourself too... and your freedom. I would love to see your "l love myself" lists someday. We are works in progress, and we must love that we are growing, learning, and "becoming".

Amy