It’s that time again for our homework Monday Project over at the Sisterhood. The great thing about the Rethink Your Shrink challenge is that its not just about weight loss and getting to a healthy weight but its also about having a positive self-image and having a health concept of oneself. This week’s project exemplifies just that!
If you check out this week’s project it says, “we’re giving you a license to talk some wonderful talk about yourselves. When we link up on Friday, we want you to list 5 reasons why you totally ROCK.”
Honestly, I would have never sat down to do this on my own. Five reasons why I rock? I mean I joke about how awesome I am all the time but do I really believe it? Honestly probably not. Having a healthy self-esteem has always been something on my to-do list that I’ve never really accomplished. Up until recently one of my common phrases was “My body hates me” as that is how I had felt. For years I had felt betrayed by my body. I was a young adult that instead of being active and spending nights out on the town with my husband, I was at home (most of the time in bed) in pain. Then when we started TTC and couldn’t get pregnant (or stay pregnant) I felt that my body had turned against me even more. Then came the big moment. My hysterectomy. The ultimate betrayal. It was so hard physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I definitely did not have a good image of myself or my body.
Thankfully I have made some progress and I am proud to admit that you know why, I do rock! So here is my list of not only 5 reasons but 10 reasons why I rock:
1 – Because I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139). It has taken me years to accept this but I have come to realize that God says that about me. He looks down and says that I am beautiful and wonderfully made (in His image no less). How can I not accept that? If God says it, then surely it is true.
2 – I am strong. Ok maybe not muscle strong (yet) but otherwise, totally. I handled 4 surgeries in 4 1/2 years. I work full-time, attend grad school, and I am a new mom. Is it easy? Absolutely not. But am I strong because of it? Absolutely!
3 – I am a pretty smart cookie aka I am a nerd. I have always done well in school because I’ve worked really hard at it and its a gift that God has given me. I graduated undergrad with honors and a 3.8 GPA and will likely graduate seminary with a 3.6 GPA. I am pretty darn proud of that.
4 – I have a great sense of direction. Typically once I visit a place once, I never have trouble finding it again. While I am glad my blackberry has a navigation app, I can do a pretty good job old-schooling it with a map.
5 – I make a mean lasagna.
6 – I am musically talented and I am so thankful that God blessed me with this gift. I majored in music in undergrad and while music ed didn’t turn out to be my calling, I enjoyed every bit of the experience. I can play multiple instruments and have a pretty decent singing ability. Music is definitely a big part of my worship.
7 – I am discerning. I am not an outgoing person by any stretch of the imagination. Sometimes I can be downright backwards, but while I may be quiet I am very observant. I am a lot like Gibbs in that I can pretty much count on my gut being right (what? you don’t know how Gibbs is?! Shame on you! You need to start watching NCIS pronto!)
8 – I picked me out an awesome husband. I knew right away with that first talk at the coffeeshop that he would make an awesome husband so I scooped him up right away. Turns out I was absolutely right! Ok maybe this actually shows how much he rocks but I do get some credit for saying yes right? (LOL)
9 – I am pretty handy around the house. I am pretty good when it comes to building something or putting something together (except that time I tried to fix the kitchen sink —- very bad idea). I think my husband will admit that I am the handyman (er..handywoman) around the house! (but he still rocks)
10 – I have the ability to love myself. Its taken me awhile to get here but I do. I honestly can say that I love myself even if I’ll never be model skinny. My self-worth is based on something much deeper and bigger than my appearance. My self-worth relies on the fact that I am a child of God and it doesn’t get any better than that!
