L.O.V.E. Y.O.U.

I can remember how far away 40 seemed to be when I was in my 20’s and how old it seemed to be when I was in my teens. Time and life have proven me wrong on both counts. This decade arrived quicker than I thought, but it’s definitely not the age of old; as a matter of fact, this 4th decade is rather freeing. It’s a freeing kind of reconciliation with…YOURSELF!

I started to write a letter to my younger self, and then I started to do 43 lessons I’ve learned; but then I got to thinking…why write a letter to my younger myself, I’ll just tell her (insert laugh here). Finally, I asked myself why do 43 lessons when so many of the lessons learned are essentially the same, they just hit you in many different ways until you learn them. Besides, I’m long-winded, so imagine how extra long this blog post would be (you have not idea)!

So in the spirit of keeping things simple, let’s do 7 things! After all, 4+3 =7, and 7 is the number of completion! Just know this, no matter what you’ve gone through, no matter what you’re going through, and no matter what you will go through; just L.O.V.E. Y.O.U. (that’s 7 right???)

*L-LIVE FOR YOURSELF-it is very easy to make decisions based on what others view as best for you or what you view as best for someone else, but it really is ok to make decisions based on what’s best for you! It is not wrong to choose yourself from time to time.

*O–OMIT SELF-DOUBT-when you discount yourself, there’s always someone in the wings waiting to give you a sharpie and a tag to make sure you record that discount on a clearance sticker…omit them too! Someone once told me to get rid of the stinkin’ thinkin’….let that marinate, then do it.

*V–VALUE THE IMPERFECTIONS: you don’t have to constantly re-assess your worth when you already know your value (repeat that as much as needed). Your corks, your kinks, your genius, your excellence, your bad habits, your brilliant mind, your thick thighs, your stretch marks, your kinky hair, your straight hair…I can go on, but i know you get the picture: all of it is YOU; Perfectly Imperfect you and there is nothing more valuable than that!

*E–EMBRACE THE MOUNTAINS AND THE VALLEYS. Oh my gosh!!! This is a whole other blog; but simply put…be just as thankful for deflation as you are for elevation. Both play a part in a shaping the you that you’re supposed to be living for! You have to know how to win and lose while maintaining your dignity, your pride and your faith.

*Y–YEARNING IS REQUIRED. Wait, wait, get your minds out of the gutter! Purpose and Passion start with a “P” so they didn’t fit my acronym…lol! But in all all seriousness, maintain a healthy yearning for the passion that leads to your purpose. You have been placed here for a reason and cultivated for a purpose, don’t you dare limit yourself but resting in comfort, when elation and satisfaction comes from being able to conquer a challenge, not from avoiding them.

*O–OBSERVE YOUR SURROUNDINGS. Even at this age, my mama still tells me to watch my surroundings whether I’m going somewhere familiar or some place new because she values my life and she’s concerned about my safety from a physical standpoint. But you also have to watch your surroundings from an emotional, spiritual, mental, professional standpoint, and probably a few other standpoints. Why-because you should value your safety…in all aspects! We have to be mindful of what and who we allow to feed us, fuel us, and full us. Everyone who appears to be in your corner does not necessarily belong in your circle. Pay attention, observe your surroundings, and don’t be afraid to adjust your perimeter because some of the people you know belong on the outside of it, and that really is ok. If in doubt, just See letter “L” again!

*U-Be Unashamed. We have done things we’re not proud of, allowed things we shouldn’t have, or made decisions we regret. We’ve all fallen prey to that pesky human occurrence called a mistake. We have all made one or two, or a million of them and we will likely continue to make a few more. The important thing is to learn and not dwell. Dwelling is like wading through quicksand without a destination in mind. You do not have to be ashamed of being human. Be unashamed! Heads up, shoulders back, crown on!

In the spirit of full disclosure, I am still relearning some of these lessons because I don’t have it all together all the time, and while I’m sometimes not alright with that, in this moment I am.

Remember to L.O.V.E. Y.O.U.

MUST WATCH AND LISTEN!!!! BRAVO As I Begin To Love Myself