Daring to be brave and not perfect is the greatest gift one can give themselves.
When was the last time you looked yourself in the mirror and said, “I love you” and you did it without crying?

In a world that silences young women, keeps wise women from opening their mouths with their sage-seasoned soul responses, and that celebrates child beauty instead of life worn, timeless beauty...

It takes perseverance and faith to walk through hard times; to see yourself, at any stage or season of life, and love the person looking back at you in the mirror., putting behind you the things that people are saying about you, the insecurities you fill your mind with, the things you consume to fill your pain or deprivation, the feeling that you must be perfect in order to be loved or succeed.

It takes faith to look up rather than down. It takes courage to get rid of the trashy magazines and books that fill yourselves and your coffee table or backpack, and swap them for good wholesome uplifting wisdom and quiet, unsatiated moments that will help the young, the old and YOU.

This is the wisdom that life gives us when we do not succumb to pressures of the world, anxiety, depression, or comparison.

Turn those feelings into fuel (when you can. Some feelings of depression and anxiety need professional attention and we need to be open to that help) to serve others out of love, compassion and to be a warrior for women, acting in faith and talking about our experiences openly with grace and love. These are the arms of love that everyone is looking for on the planet.

You know how you go through your day with a to-do list longer than you expected and you rush to get it all done?

You know when you have a project to do, you pour yourself into it, forget to eat, forget to take time out, and you push yourself to the very limits to finish those projects?

Rushing, being “busy”, and feeling inadequate often crowd out the joy of quiet, calm, peace, and service.

Lately, all I’ve wanted to do is sleep. This is not natural for me. Anyone who knows me understands that the minute my feet hit the floor, I’m running until the moment I lay my head on my pillow, which often can be 16-24-48 hours after I awoke the last time. This is not practicing anything but exhaustion...yet, it is something that I practiced for years, in the name of “getting things done”.

To be honest, I have beaten myself up wondering what’s wrong with me that I am wanting to sleep, to rest, to gather myself a different way than I ever have before. Even through breast cancer, all those surgeries, all the self-care practices I have begun, this stands out as different.

Daring ourselves to feel each emotion and validate its part in our lives is how we can look in the mirror and love who we are.

Walk with a purpose to allow yourself to have love, compassion for others, persevere any hardship, and walk a confident line with boundaries that will keep us safe, alive, and looking up.