There are days when I look in the mirror and don't like what I see. I start wishing I had a magic wand to eliminate the jiggle of my thighs or a miracle eraser that I could swipe across my tummy pooch to make it disappear.
Over the course of my lifetime, I've given my less than stellar body parts nicknames like "doughnut", "brisket thighs", and "jelly belly." Yep, self-deprecating humor at it's finest (or worst). I always figured that if I laughed it off or criticized it first, then I was in control...or so I thought.
It's painful when others say cruel things to us yet we accept that kind of garbage from our own selves. When you love someone you encourage them, believe in them, and give them all of the positive energy that you can. We do what we can to lift them up so they can reach their goals and try our best to not use hurtful words towards them. So why on earth wouldn't we treat ourselves the same way?
A lot of it stems from the idea that giving ourselves that kind of love is selfish. It's NOT. Loving yourself isn't about being frivolous and excessively indulgent; it's about treating yourself with respect, valuing one's health and longevity. As flawed as we may think they are, our bodies are pretty freakin' awesome.
The more respect you give yourself, the more your body and mind will respond favorably. Acceptance of your body doesn't mean that it can't be improved; it means that you accept it in it's current state, which can always be bettered. Love yourself enough to make positive changes and don't chastise yourself if you fall short. Part of self-love means not giving up on yourself.
Recognize how amazing you are, stop beating yourself up, and choose the thoughts you have about yourself with care because you ARE listening. Give it a shot because you are totally worth it!
Happy Trails!
Valeka
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Father's Day
I've learned a few things from my Dad over the years like the a love of reading, the finer points of football, and how to grill an awesome burger. One of the things I am happy to have learned from him is a love of running.
When I was a kid, I remember my Dad going for a run down the country dirt road near our home every day after work. He'd run regardless of the weather or how tired he was. My brother and I would sit in our sandbox and wait for the first sight of him as he ran up the hill near the back of our house.
As we got older, Bubba and I were finally allowed to go running with him. Dad sometimes changed stuff up on us and would take us for a run at the local high school track which was something I was NEVER able to get into. Running endless circles around the same track wasn't fun to me and, to this day, it's something I avoid at all costs.
He always made sure that Bubba and I paced ourselves. He never pushed me to run faster than I was comfortable doing (my brother always managed to lap me). He knew that running slow was frustrating for me and explained that I should enjoy each run and feel at ease. That's something that I still believe when it comes to running - do it, enjoy it and have fun.
Nowadays, he doesn't do much running. He can usually be seen walking his dog, Jake, around the neighborhood. But in my mind, he's still that athletic, muscular guy that ran 4 miles every day.
Happy Father's Day, Dad!
Love,
Valeka
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