Love Yourself (Right Where You Are)

I happened to be watching "The Today Show" last week while eating breakfast.  I looked up one time and Matt, Al, Anne and Savanna were standing outside on the plaza.  It struck me how uncomfortable they looked.


Savanna is a tall, beautiful, model looking woman.  Looking at her you'd think she had everything going for her; what every woman would like to be.  Yet there she was, slouching and looking uncomfortable with her height.

Matt and Al also looked uncomfortable with her height.  Men are supposed to be taller than women after all.  Here were these two well known, well respected, multi-millionaires looking uncomfortable with and intimidated by this tall woman.

The only one that looked the least bit comfortable in her own skin was Anne.  She is exactly what society dictates.  She's the right height and weight.  Not too short because, of course, THAT isn't good.  But still she's shorter than the men because we all know how important THAT is.  And you can't be a pound too heavy because you have this image to uphold and these clothes you have to wear and make look good.

I really felt bad for all of them AND all of us who buy into society's "rules" for how we should look, be, think, say and do.  There's no allowance for individuality and variety.  How sad that people who are too short, too tall, too heavy, too thin, too much hair, too little hair, the wrong style of hair or clothes and so on are made to feel less than, not good enough and judged.  Why can't we all love each other right where we are?  More importantly, why can't we love OURSELVES right where we are?  I think that's where we need to start.  If we love ourselves, I mean REALLY love ourselves, it won't matter what anyone else thinks.  And when we love ourselves, we send out an energy of that love and confidence that other people pick up on.  If every person did that, it would impact and peacefully change the world.  So I challenge you (and myself) to start right now working on truly loving yourself and let's see how your world will change.

Love, Paula

Spring

The spring equinox is upon us.  After being couped up during the cold winter months, we all look forward to the promise of spring.  Birds are singing, flowers are starting to appear, the weather is getting warmer and all is right with the world.  It's fun.  It's exciting.  It's energizing.  We open windows to let in the fresh air.  We do our spring cleaning to get our houses in order so we're ready to emerge to the outside activities.

The spring equinox is one of two days in the year when we have equal amounts of day and night.  Equilibrium... balance.  It's a wonderful reminder to take a look at our lives and see where we might have lost our equilibrium so we can work to bring back our balance.  Let's open the windows of our hearts and minds to get a fresh, new perspective on life.  Let's clean away the cobwebs of old thought patterns and ideas to allow new ones to spring forth.  Let's get rid of all thoughts, ideas and patterns that don't serve us anymore, and prevent us from becoming who we really are and who we want to be.  Let's really "clean house," inside and out.  Then we can emerge fresh and rejuvenated into the promising energies of spring.

Love, Paula

Serenity

We have been having the most wonderful mild winter this year.  We got some snow, but not nearly as much as we usually do.  And when it did snow, it melted within a day or two.  I'm looking out the window now at beautiful sunshine and a bright blue sky.  It's actually supposed to get close to 60 degrees tomorrow... in February... in Erie...!  Awesome!!!

There are naysayers out there worrying that we're going to have to pay for this when summer comes along.  They think that we will either have a cooler than normal summer, a rainy summer, or both as a payback for this mild winter.

Worry is wasted energy.  We don't know what the summer will be like until it gets here.  There is no sense worrying about it because there is nothing we can do about it.  It's going to be what it's going to be.  My favorite prayer is the Serenity Prayer.

Lord, Grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The Courage to change the things I can,
And the Wisdom to know the difference.

Well, weather is something we cannot change.  There is really nothing we can do about it.  So let's just enjoy these beautiful days while we have them.  Live each day to the fullest.  And deal with whatever comes along when it gets here.

Love,  Paula