To me?

Sometimes it feels good to be thanked yourself...

5th Grade Boy to me today: "Ms. C., thank you for letting me listen while you problem solved with my friends. Now I know what to do with my little brother."

To me...

A few months ago I was asked by my sister to participate in a writing exercise called "I Like Me." This is an exercise that asks you to literally write down all the reasons why you like yourself.

Sounds easy, right?

It was anything but!

It's not often that we are invited to sit down and truly reflect on what makes us wonderful human beings. We feel like we are bragging, egotistical, too self-confident... all horribly negative traits!

When we're constantly confronted with images of "beauty" and "success" on our televisions, magazine covers, and newspapers, it's so easy to compare and find ourselves lacking in some area or another. We forget that it's actually healthy to appreciate and love ourselves for who we are and not for what we have or have not.

So, my friends, the following is an essay I wrote about myself. I changed it to a letter so it would fit the format of this blog. I encourage you to read mine and then take a moment (or ten) to write an "I Like Me" paragraph or two about yourself. You can share it on here as a comment or just bask in the reality that, wow, there are some things you like about yourself!

As a hint... it's sometimes easier to write about yourself in the third person.

Dear Me,

I’ve never met anyone quite like Suz and I mean that in the very best way. When you first see her, you might notice her slightly crooked smile, her cheerful freckles, her laughing eyes, her fabulous taste in shoes, or her curvaceous bod’. And you might already be hooked. But there’s so much more to this quirky young lady (for she still can’t quite get comfortable with calling herself a “woman”) than meets the eye.

The Suz I know appreciates the little things in life and for this I adore her. She’s happier walking Green Lake with a cherished friend and a soy latte in hand than drinking cosmos with rock stars in New York (though she wouldn’t mind doing that too!). I love that Suz is constantly smiling because she’s tickled pink by every day moments – like when a bus driver spontaneously decides to lead passengers in song. Or a stranger compliments her outfit. Or she witnesses a random act of kindness. Or a baby giggles. Or she slips and falls on her bum because she refuses to switch from her cute boots to ones with traction despite warnings of ice on the sidewalks.

I love how Suz enjoys staying in to watch movies or play board games as much as she adores donning her highest heels for a night out on the town. I appreciate that she’s just as comfortable dialoging about racism, oppression, and privilege as chatting about fashion or the antics of actors in sitcoms (How I Met Your Mother, anyone?). She’s quite the adaptable lady.

I love Suz’s passion and compassion. Though she could quite easily have become a psychologist making big bucks with a private practice, she chose social work—a job she describes as “lots of work for little pay” and one in which she earns more karma points than anything else. She's also quite the political activist and is always willing to protest or paint her face or picket to show her support... or lack thereof.

I love how Suz so clearly adores children—babies especially.  I love that she’s stayed in touch with Milo, her “little man,” and how she excitedly tells everyone who will listen about all his cute antics. I love that she always stoops down so she’s eye to eye when conversing with kids and how she never says “no” to a hug from one of her “kiddos.” I love that her favorite songs to sing are lullabies… It’s so obvious she’ll make a great mother someday.

I love that though Suz has been through some incredibly difficult and emotional experiences, they have only made her stronger. She freely admits her stressful childhood made her who she is… but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

I love how easy it is to make her blush or laugh. I love how she relishes her moments of spontaneity, but at the same time is responsible and organized. I love how she's quite klutzy and rather silly at times--so much so that her friends at USF coined the term "Ooohh Suz moments" in reference to her episodes of pure brainlessness. I love how she’s willing to do just about anything, even her mother’s quirky ideas. Did you know she’s been trained as a clown and a laughter leader?

I love Suz’s need for travel and how she uses her time away as a reminder of why she loves home.

I love that she’s an incredibly supportive and loyal friend.

Of course, Suz definitely has her flaws, but somehow I love her even more for them.

I wouldn’t have her any other way.

Love,

Me