NextTuesday's December 29, 2012 blog

NextTuesday chooses to swim instead of drown

I’m private

MAIN

Saturday blog

DECEMBER 29, 2012 @ 02:53 PM

Instead of down playing compliments and picking out our physical faults in the mirror, we should learn to say thank you and say something nice about our looks out loud on a daily basis. How terrible is it that our children grow up learning we should not say "Thank You" when someone says we're pretty? How terrible is it that they hear us say "I'm so fat" "I hate my hair" "I wish I could look like her"?

The cycle continues until someone stops it. I am making an effort to stop it. Every morning Olivia plays in the bathroom while I shower. I get out and lotion up now and tell her about how I love how soft it makes my skin. Bonus: she likes to rub the lotion on my feet and calves LOL! Then I get fully dressed, brush my hair, and do something "pretty" like put on a piece of jewelry or a lil bit of make up or a spritz of body spray from OhYum!. When I'm all fancied up I look in the mirror and say "I feel beautiful today" and I'll tell Olivia how beautiful she looks too.

It may all sound silly, but I'm actually starting to feel pretty. It's been a long, LONG time since I've felt anything other than fat, frumpy, and often flat out ugly. Who would've guessed something so simple could start to change things. On top of that, I feel damn good that I'm teaching my daughter to love herself instead of search for her flaws.

LilCali

I'm lost

July 2006

DEC 29, 2012 03:14 PM

This is the best gift you could give your daughter. Love yourself for who you are. I admire you for writing this blog. Thank you. <33

Dougrun

San Luis Obispo, CA

February 2007

DEC 29, 2012 03:24 PM

I took a class on elementary phys ed as part of my bachelors degree and one of the funnest exercises was a rainy day game where you tape a piece of paper to everyone's back. Then everyone goes around to each person and writes one thing they like about that person, anonymously. It's a great way to make everyone feel good about themselves.

RoxieHart

Philadelphia, PA

January 2005

DEC 29, 2012 04:12 PM

this. is. FANTASTIC! I love this! <3

Stuntc0ck

Philadelphia, PA

January 2009

DEC 29, 2012 04:23 PM

This works for men too. We all can easily hate ourselves when we could just as easily love ourselves.
We are all designed to be different.
Look different.
Smell different.
Taste different.

Rejoice in the individual you, in all your many phases as you journey through life. You are always YOU no matter what phase you are in of you.

Self love is where its at. Keep it up!

bepps

Guasti, CA

April 2003

DEC 29, 2012 04:31 PM

I'm sure you wouldn't be surprised at all at my agreeing whole heartily at your first paragraph. The second paragraph, partially. I'm not a fan of just blindly saying something that may or may not be true solely because you're hoping for a result that would happen were the statement accurate. That's how depression gets started. When your brain can't understand frustrations. It might seem theraputic, but I don't really see it as being effective. I much prefer the idea of saying you are beautiful. And that's the thing about you saying "I am beautiful and I am going to make sure I feel beautiful all day" is that you actually are beautiful. Very beautiful. Always have been and, well you won't always be but you're gonna be beautiful just as long as you god damn can.