STANDING TALL



“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do. ”
--Eleanor Roosevelt--

Today I am standing tall in a pair of shoes my sister gave me yesterday. I have coveted them for two years--and, like younger sisters everywhere, have begged for her to pull them off and hand them over many times. Finally, (and unexpectedly) she did. I slid my feet inside and felt the *magic* I always knew I'd possess if only these loafers were mine. Now, of course, I inherited them because she'd found another pair she preferred...I inherited them after they'd been well-worn with scuffed heels and soft insoles...but there is a power tucked into the buckles--a strength in each stitch. Sometimes there are things that can only be learned by traveling through the process. I feel empowered to be able to walk the miles now in a pair of shoes already imbued with such wise experience. {Also, they're cute...another very important point!}

I have been thinking so much lately about gathering strength and power and recently read through a book offering practical suggestions to do just that, the essence of which was this:

"1. Stop All Criticism It is a useless act; it never accomplishes anything positive. Don't criticize yourself; lift that burden from yourself. Don't criticize others either, as the faults we usually find in others are merely projections of the things we don't like in ourselves. Thinking negatively about another person is one of the greatest causes of limitation in our own lives.

2. Don't Scare Yourself We all want to stop that. Too often we terrorize ourselves with our own thoughts. We can only think one thought at a time. Let's learn to think in positive affirmations. In this way, our thinking will change our lives for the better. If you catch yourself scaring yourself again, immediately say, "I release the need to scare myself. I am a divine, magnificent expression of life, and I am living fully from this moment on."

3. Be Committed to the Relationship You Have With Yourself We get so committed to other relationships, but we tend to toss ourselves away. We get around to ourselves now and then. So, really care for who you are. Be committed to loving yourself. Take care of your heart and soul.

4. Treat Yourself as Though You Are Loved Respect and cherish yourself. As you love yourself, you will be more open to love from others.

5. Take Care of Your Body Your body is a precious temple. If you are going to live a long, fulfilling life, then you want to take care of yourself now. You want to look good, and most of all, feel good and have lots of energy. Nutrition and exercise are important. You want to keep your body flexible and moving easily until your last day on the planet.

6. Educate Yourself Too often we complain that we don't know this or that and we don't know what to do. But we are bright and smart, and we can learn.

7. Build a Financial Future For Yourself Every woman has a right to have money of her own. This is a significant belief for us to accept. It is part of our self-worth. We can always start on a small level. The important thing is that we keep saving. Affirmations are good to use here.

8. Fulfill Your Creative Side Creativity can be any activity that fulfills you. It can be anything from baking a pie to designing a building. Give yourself some time to express yourself. If you have children and time is short, find a friend who will help you take care of your children, and vice versa. You both deserve time for yourselves. You are worth it.

9. Make Joy and Happiness the Center of Your World Joy and happiness are always within you. Make sure you are connected with this place inside of you. Build your life around this joy. When we are happy, we can be creative, we don't sweat the small stuff, and we are open to new ideas.

10. Have Integrity; Keep Your Word In order to honor and respect yourself, you must have integrity. Learn to keep your word. Do not make promises you will not keep even to yourself."

{Note: These ideas are taken from Louise L. Hay's book, Empowering Women, Every Woman's Guide to Successful Living.}

Today is a day of sunlight and warmth here on the East Coast...a brief hiatus from the winter weather. A sky like this one, and the crocus in bloom, and the tree branches swelling with buds can make it so much easier to breathe deeply in the moment and celebrate the here and now. I'm also celebrating a new poem of mine published in the latest edition of Flashquake, called "The Lament of the Bearded Lady" and the fact that they mentioned it for me over at the wonderful magazine I edit for, here. I had an interview about my writing process, motherhood, and my novel for a local magazine coming out soon to publicize my fellowship award...and I have been confirmed for a public reading on June 1st with a talk beforehand and a question and answer session afterward! (Feeling nervous and excited all at once). I am busy getting to work with a couple of new writers at Literary Mama this week, but will be posting as hostess for this kindhearted blogger over at her "just be connected" website here if you'd like to read along.


"If God sends us on stony paths, He provides strong shoes."
--Cory Ten Boom, writer and Holocaust survivor--
Thanks, C. for sharing yours with me...