Liking Myself?

If you really put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price. ~Author Unknown


I'm taking up Gail's challenge today to find five things I like about myself.
This is a big stretch for me right now - as I know it is for many of us humble-lowdown mothers, who are quick to encourage others but not so quick to pat ourselves on the back.

Even as I sit here typing, my mind is a blank.
So easy for my thoughts to run to the negative.

I think to myself, hey I'm a loving person... but my mind whispers, "Yeah but what about that time...?"
I say, Well I'm kind... but my thoughts accuse, "But what about the time you ignnored that person/thing/need?"

So yeah. I'm drawing a blank.
But. This is a good exercise.
My lovely Canadian friend Cat is a wonderful example of a woman who loves herself - because of this she is totally free to love and encourage others. The way she wrote her five things challenged and inspired me.
I am under no illusion that being down on yourself is in any way healthy or commendable.
It's the opposite.

So right.
I'll start with an easy one.

1. I am Creative

I like this about myself. I have great ideas, I am arty, I paint nice pictures. My home reflects my creativity, its a comfortable, colourful place to be. Not museum-like at all, but full of meaningful things I love.

2. I'm a starter-upper

I am actually quite impulsive and often dive in boots and all. I am an initiator. You can tell this by the number of blogs in have on my dashboard. Sometimes this gets out of hand! But still, I have in the past been involved in creating things that are still going, and continue to help people long after I have departed the scene. I'm a starter-upper. I can be proud of that.

3. I Care

I do. I really do care about other people. I like to help. I like to be kind. I don't always meet up to my own expectation on this, but I think I can say that I have a pretty soft heart and if I can help in any way, I usually do. This one goes hand in hand with number 2 - I care so I do stuff about the needs I see. I care deeply about my kids - and so as a result I have pretty great relationships with them. Even my eldest son talks to me, really talks to me. They know I care.

4. I'm a Good Friend

I think I am. I hope I am? Because I care. I try to be a kind supportive encouraging friend. I'm sure that sometimes my enthusiasm carries me away and I talk too much about myself, but I think I have such a lovely bunch of friends because I am a decent friend to have. They say that the quality of a person's friends reflects upon their character. I have wonderful friends {yes that's you I'm talking about}... so I must have good character, right?

5. I have a Great Smile

I didn't always appreciate my smile. I was self conscious about my big wide mouth and my sticky-out "fang" tooth. So I used to smile close-mouthed, and never liked the pictures of me.

But now, now I smile as big and wide as I can. I think my smile makes me look prettier. It shows off my cheekbones. It makes me look young and happy. I like my smile and I've made peace with my fang.

Plus, Vampires are all the rage now aren't they?

There now. That wasn't so hard was it?

{If you want to join in, go visit Gail over here}
♥