TIME TO EMBRACE WHO WE ARE
I'm so excited now it's May and I have a whole month to write about things that I'm learning to EMBRACE. I don't believe in focusing on things we need to push out of our lives, instead I think we need to open our arms and embrace all the good stuff and it will fill us up until there's less room for the not so good stuff.The first and foremost thing we all need to take ownership of and appreciate more, is our "Self" - the parts of us (body, mind, soul and spirit) that make us who we are. Those of us in midlife have worn so many hats over the years.....student, career woman, friend, daughter, girlfriend, wife, mother, grandmother, auntie, and the list could go on for eternity. Every.single.one. of these roles has equipped us to be the woman we are now and what a woman she is!
WE'RE NOT DEPENDENT ON OUR ROLES
For starters, we aren't shrinking violets who need to depend on our husbands to provide for us and give us our identity. We're waaaaay past that stage (if we were ever there in the first place). We are dynamic partners in our relationships - we are vital, and engaging, and interesting, and those who have us in their lives are blessed indeed! We can step out independently without being afraid of rejection - knowing that our partners are cheering us on to become all we're capable of being.We're also not dependent on our role as "Mum" to fulfill us either - now we can use our mothering experience to nurture others, and not just our biological children. We use those skills with our ageing parents and the needs they have, we use it with our grandchildren, with friends who need support, with other people's children who need advice or a listening ear, and in so many other ways.
SELF ESTEEM AND OWNERSHIP
Many of us grew up without strong role models and without the emotional affirmation that is so important to building strong self esteem. I know my parents had no idea how important it was to build those qualities into their child - especially in the early and teenage years. I am so envious of young women today who have the self assurance that's taken me 50+ years to come even close to. I had very little belief in myself or my abilities and no idea what assets I had to offer until I started blogging and THEN I met a diverse group of women who are living wide open, joyful, fulfilling lives - and I wanted what they were having! They've been an inspiration for me to start living a much fuller and more interesting life in my own right - and it's wonderful!
Part of embracing who you are is taking ownership of your identity and your personality and preferences and liking that person. We have so much to offer and so many qualities to share with others. We are "confident, untamable and badass" just like Steve Maraboli says and we need to get out there and show that to the world! We don't need to be yelling "I am woman hear me roar!" but we can be self assured, brave and authentic (one of my favourite words).
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
There is only one unique "you" so why not make the most of her and show others what you're made of? Why not get out there and use your uniqueness to make the world a better place? Let's go girls!
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Oh I love your new theme Leanne - Embrace! A great way to start May.
ReplyDeletethanks Sue - it ties in with my word for 2016 and I just love the idea of opening up to new opportunities.
DeleteYes you have given me an idea to try later. I can't wait to read the next one.
DeleteLove it, love it, love it!
ReplyDeleteI never get tired to remind people of the importance of being oneself.
In all the madness of trying to fit in desperately, we simply forget we can only contribute to the world by developing our skills without losing our identity.
Very inspiring way to start the week, Leanne.
Thank you very much for sharing it.
Thanks so much Deb - and I agree, we really need to let the world see us all as individuals rather than trying to fit into the box :)
DeleteIndeed, Leanne!
DeleteWhat a great theme for May! We are each so many things and it is great to remember that they are all only a part of us.
ReplyDeleteI agree Shari - we are all so different and we all have so much to offer - it's time we let ourselves jump up and do our "thing"
DeleteOh yes, friend, I am no shrinking violet. And I feel the older I get the less I…shrink :-)
ReplyDeleteGood on you Carla - I love that you don't shrink - you are a shining example of being confident in your "self"
DeleteThis becomes so much easier as we age. It is as if we grow into ourselves and feel less influenced by what others think. It is one of the great benefits of getting older.
ReplyDeleteCarol
http://carolcassara.com/douro-river/
I agree Carol - it's nice to think that there are some bonuses to this getting older thing - discovering who we are is certainly one of them :)
DeleteI look forward to a month of embracing blogs! I love that top photo. I am onboard your bad ass wagon.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're bad assing with me Haralee - it's a great time of life to be doing it :)
DeleteI'm like you, Leanne, I feel I didn't start embracing self until just recently. Being a mom was my most important role and I got lost in that role and didn't give much thought to what else I had to offer. This midlife thing has been eye opening.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean Laurie - it's like waking up after a long sleep and finding that you are a whole new person!
DeleteBeautifully said, Leanne. Your vigor is a breath of fresh air. I recently read a book my friend Julie Burton wrote called "Self-Care Solution" and it addressed so many of these things you touch on, truly reaching in and taking care of and embracing who we are and sharing that with the world. Sounds like already know the importance of that. Love this post.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Julie - I can't believe how much of my life went by before I realized how much I have to offer and how much life has to offer in return.
DeleteAmen! This truly is one of the blessings of getting older, coming into ourselves and feeling comfortable in our own skin (even it it is more wrinkled). There's so much to celebrate every day.
ReplyDeleteSo true Roxanne - and I've loved meeting so many online midlifers who feel exactly the same way - it's so affirming!
DeleteThis is beautiful! Embrace - shall me my new mantra for this month. It will remind me to embrace and love me! Happy Embrace Month to you!
ReplyDeleteand happy Embrace month to you Ellen :) I hope you pop back to read more and chat more over May xx
DeleteSo inspirational and I pinned one of your pics. We are pretty cool, after all.
ReplyDeleteI think we're much cooler than we give ourselves credit for Rebecca x
DeleteThere is something 'magical' about embracing Life/Yourself. It's not only empowering but liberating! We only have one life after all!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree - if we don't celebrate who we are and the life we have then we are missing such a wonderful opportunity!
DeleteLove your new series Leanne. This is something I still struggle with - embracing me. I do think the picture is coming into focus a bit more though.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lana - it's been a steep learning curve for me too but I'm slowly getting there - and maybe some of my other posts will spur you on :)
DeleteA good reminder to save time for ourselves. All to often we leave ourselves at the bottom of the priority list.
ReplyDeleteI think that is a woman/mother thing Helene and we need to remind ourselves that we are worth spending some time on too :)
DeleteI LOVE your message today, Leanne! Of course, it's a good one for EVERYDAY. I'm like you where it took 50 years to get here, LOL. I admire the confidence in young women as well.
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd known what having confidence was like back in my younger days Lisa but maybe we can make up for it in our second blooming!
DeleteFinding time for ourselves is so important. I struggle at times to give it the importance that it deserves.
ReplyDeleteI think we all do Rena - it doesn't have to be big chunks of time - little moments here and there when we aren't sharing our headspace with others is really lovely.
DeleteEmbrace - one of my favorite words! I never truly appreciated its meaning until the last couple of years.
ReplyDeleteMine too Michelle and I'm finding that the last few years has been such a journey into learning how to step out and open my arms up to much more x
DeleteLove the concept of embracing ourselves & all we were meant to be! What a hopeful, inspiring concept!
ReplyDeletethanks so much - I think it's so refreshing to take ownership of who we are and start really liking ourselves.
DeleteYou are so right about not having strong role models! It took me years as well to discover my true self! Love this post it's so right on!
ReplyDeleteI'm a little sad to think of what I could have been if my parents had realized the importance of building up their children - it would have saved me a lot of lessons along the way!
DeleteYes, It's so important to be true to yourself. I try to make myself a priority from time to time, and it only helps my family.
ReplyDeleteEstelle
If we don't have a little bit of care and compassion for ourselves then we have nothing left to pass on to others Estelle - we need to find time to refresh every so often :)
DeleteThanks so much Marilyn - we're very excited about the arrival of Sophia May and it's lovely to join the grandparent club!
ReplyDeleteLeanne, love your theme for the month of May! I have noticed a change in direction in your writing over the past several months and I am so excited for you and you are doing such an amazing job! I'm loving reading your words!
ReplyDeleteI am taken up looking at your beautiful photos. It looks like the little new life has breathed joy in you all. Powerful stuff. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Leanne ... Very apt theme chosen...
ReplyDeleteYes lets go and embrace ourselves..
http://serendipityofdreams.blogspot.in/2016/05/who-am-i.html
Hi Leanne, How wonderful that your local paper did such a huge article on your blogging experience. It sounds like you and I are both late bloomers. Going back to college in my 30s helped me start. Blogging has been the frosting on the cake. I don't know that it was an impetus to become a better person. That's another topic! Great article.
ReplyDelete