10 Things I Love About Me...

In recent days, loving yourself seems to be a recurring theme.  What started as a locker room chat has turned into a topic of deep contemplation. 

How can a woman love others well, if she doesn't love herself well? 

The bottom line is that she can't. 

Don't you think that it is time to put an end to this reality?

Sara at Yes and Yes was bold enough to pave the way and tell us the 10 things she loved about herself, and Ian Morgan Cron announced that this past Friday was Self-Compassion Day, which left Katie and I no other choice but to put our locker room chat to the test.

And, although this is risky and goes against everything I have ever thought to be true about being humble, I think it is about darn time that I start loving myself.

Some may choose to celebrate with me and some may not, and for the first time in my life...that's okay.

10 Things I love about myself:

1. My heart and it's ability to feel other's pain 
I have often said that I could be a professional mourner.  I could go to strangers' funerals {one's without family or friends} and I could cry for them, and have the bags under my eyes to prove it.  I believe God has blessed me with the ability to walk alongside others who are in pain, and most of the time I am thankful.

2. My arms
Superficial? Yes. True? Yes.  I remember a picture of me as a little girl, and I am holding up a fish that my dad and I caught. I remember feeling strong in that picture, not only because of the strength in my arms, but also because I was a little girl who wasn't afraid to put a worm on a hook.  Now 25 years later, I have still managed to keep some of that strength, and I am proud of it.

3. My sense of humor
I can laugh with the best of them and appreciate good{and bad;} humor.  I love laughing and have been known to have a quick wit every now and then. 

4. My freckles
What's not to love? They come out during my favorite time of the year and are a marker of the time I have spent playing in the sun.  My Freckles are unpredictable and imperfect, and that is exactly what I love about them.

5. My willingness to try most anything
It is not often that I will pass something up. I have learned in the last few years that saying yes is so much more rewarding than saying no.  And, with each yes, I have found an incredible life experience paired with it, which beats playing it safe hands down.

6. I always root for the underdog
I love a great story, and have found that a great story often starts with the underdog.  My heart is drawn to the underdog.  I want to be their loudest cheerleader and their biggest fan.  Some of my favorite moments in life have been when the underdog realizes that they can do it for the first time, and everything within my wants to whisper, I always knew you could. 

7. My ability to relate to kids
Maybe it's my dorkiness, or maybe not, I just know that on most occasions I can find some way to relate to kids, and I am proud of that.

8. My courage
For the first time in my life I am taking a risk and going against the grain.  I am going against logic and following my heart, and it feels really good.

9. My dancing skills {or lack thereof}
I will be the first to admit that I am a horrible dancer, but I will try to cut a rug with the best of them.  It has taken me 30 years to get to this point, and it is much more fun than sitting and watching everyone else dance.


10. I am me.
I am Theresa Heethuis, and there is no other me.  At times I a grumpy and cynical.  I can lose my patience with the best of them, and I am still learning to love my forehead, but darn it all I am me and that is beautiful.

Now it's your turn! What are 10 things you love about yourself?

You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe,
deserve your love and affection.

        ~Buddha