Are you a good friend to yourself?

"Healthy Reflections" hit very close today! I particularly liked the section where it states, "You have friends because you see the good in them, not the flaws. You like them the way they are, warts and all. You enjoy their company and root for them to be happy and do their best. Look at yourself the same way. To be a good friend to yourself, accept your blemishes, while still pushing yourself to reach your full potential. Don't harp on your weaknesses. Take another look in the mirror and be kinder this time. "

Today has been one of those days where I have spent hours on the boards reassuring others if they have slipped off track during all the holiday paties, dinners etc. I have a trick that I learned at an early age when answering the telephone - start smiling before you say a word. The tone of your voice will be more pleasant to the person on the other end and not put them on the offensive. Now, I start smiling - and there are days that smile isn't easy to come by - before I post. I try to be kind to everyone. The people I have met on the boards have become dear friends. I accept them for who they are, realizing that we are all human and as humans will make human mistakes. I try to make personal contact with each and every one, yet some still feel like they are neglected or ignored. For some reason, I think their feelings are entirely my fault - forgetting that I am not alone on the boards!

I forgot one person who needs me to be kind to them! The old lady who gazes out of my mirror at me when I'm putting on my makeup. I've been treating her very badly. I've told her how very stupid she is when she tastes her cookie dough and then the cookies. I tell her she is still fat and needs to get up off her butt and exercise, not whine about it. I am not nice to her at all and I should be - that old lady looks a lot like my Mother and I loved her and was always kind.

That old lady is me! Me - a Motivator on Sparks - and I am guilty of Elder Abuse! To myself, no less. I just made a pact with that old lady in the mirror - I'm going to be nicer to her. She has had a rough year and yet has managed to get 20 pounds off. She quit smoking in October after many, many years with the nicotine habit and didn't gain a pound - until she got piggy at Thanksgiving! Not the metabolism change from lack of nicotine, but the hand to mouth disease did her in for a couple of pounds. I should give her a break! She is only human too!

Cookies are made and ready to be given to neighbors, Volunteer firemen, kids/grandkids/great grandkids. She is fixing a healthy meal for her husband every night and he never fails to tell her how much he appreciates the things she does. I think I better be nice to her too - "warts and all!"