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| 28 years later. Still the same girl. Just in Rome, Italy. |
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| A postcard that I purchased in Rome for myself... as a reminder. |
As women in today's culture, we can't help but struggle with feelings of inadequacy in the way we look, in our careers, in our homes, as mothers, as wives.... our culture feeds these insecurities. My sister gave me a piece advise once that I will hold close to my heart until my skin is wrinkled and my hair is grey, "love yourself the way you would love your own daughter. The way you would love the child-you." For a while she carried a photograph of her childhood self around in her wallet as a daily reminder. God! How beautiful is that?! I wrote this poem with that mantra in mind:
Love Her
Sweet girl
You were once a little person with chubby toes
You are still that girl
Don't you love her?
You don't grudgingly hold on to that little girl's failures
Instead you remind her that life will include a few stumbles
Just pick yourself back up
Forgive Yourself.
Round tummy that peeks out as she runs and plays
You wouldn't dare criticize her chubby midline
So why do you now?
Love Yourself.
Dreams of growing wings at the height of her swinging on the swing set
You wouldn't dare snuff out the little girl's dreams of flight
Allow Yourself to Dream.
Compassion for her 28 years ago.
Compassion for her today.
