Before enjoying today’s blog, pour a glass or cup of whatever makes you happy and click on the link below for today’s theme song…
It’s been one of those weeks. I hate to put it so bluntly, but it got off to a shitty start for me on Monday. I had a doctor’s appointment for my three-month diabetes checkup. Needless to say, it did not go well. I gained five pounds, my A1c was up a half of a point and my blood pressure was elevated. At my last appointment, I had lost weight, my A1c had dropped and my pressure was normal. So, I was bummed.
After my doctor and I had a “come to Jesus” meeting, I left feeling defeated and ashamed. I completely cut myself no slack for the extra stressors in my life at the moment or gave myself any credit for the successes I have achieved over the past twelve months. Even with my weight gain, I have still lost twenty pounds. My A1c is down several points from where it was two years ago. I own my own business and work full time. And, on top of all of this, I have published a book and am actively promoting it. Whew! That’s a lot!
After the Monday incident (that’s what I’m choosing to call it), my week continued to get busier. I worked long hours every day and came home to dinner prep and laundry. I had no time for meditation, relaxation and writing. Although I began each day with the good intention of reclaiming my healthy routines, by nighttime I had failed once again. So, to say I have felt defeated over the past week is putting it mildly. It has totally affected how I have treated myself and the people I love the most.
So, why am I kicking my own ass? Because that is what highly motivated people do. We always strive to do more and be better. We always work harder and look for ways to improve ourselves and our lives. We so often look at ourselves with criticism instead of acceptance. We feel uncomfortable cutting ourselves some slack. I know I do it and I’m sure you do too.
All these thoughts whirling through my mind got me to thinking. How many people deal with unreal stress every day? How many people juggle a crazy amount of crap all the time and never get a high five or a “great job”? How many other people have shitty days like everyone else but keep a smile on their face and keep their complaints to themselves? I know there are a lot of people out there just like me who kick butt and take names on the regular. You get handed lemons and you make lemonade. So, allow me to give you a much-deserved pat on the back right now and say, “Good job.”
So, in this upcoming week, I challenge you to cut yourself some slack. Instead of judging yourself so harshly, be kind to yourself. And if you are having trouble doing that for yourself, I will do it for you. I hereby declare this week “Celebrate You Week.” This week we will celebrate all of our accomplishments, no matter how big or small. And this is how we are going to do it:
If you get up in the morning and simply show up, good job! Sometime it takes all the effort you can muster to do that and you should be applauded for it.
If you manage to keep a smile on your face while dealing with a rude cashier when ordering your breakfast, you deserve a high five! If they get your order wrong and you eat it anyway instead of going all “Karen” on them, you deserve a special treat!
If you make yourself do that workout that feels like hours instead of minutes, you’re amazing! If you have to do it while looking like a hot, sweaty mess while all of the beautiful people stare, you’re a damned rock star! Keep up the hard work. I see you; I respect you; it’s gonna be worth it!
If you make it through the day without giving in to the urge to argue with Facebook trolls, kudos to you! Although, I must admit I am secretly amused at your “reads” and your salty and/or sarcastic comments do make me smile sometimes.
If you almost eat the whole damned sleeve of Oreos but left one in the package, good job on practicing a modicum of self-control. Bet you can’t eat just one does not just apply to Lays potato chips! Eat a salad and the diet gods will be appeased.
If you do one single thing that is good, no matter how small. Reward yourself! You did good.
Do you see where I’m going with this? Take it easy on you for a change…be kind to you…revel in all of your glorious underachievement. Cut yourself some slack and expect nothing from yourself other than what you are able to do. Celebrate the beautiful imperfection that is you…that is all of us. Love yourself just as you are in this moment and let yourself try harder tomorrow. Remember, it’s okay to detour and take a wrong turn sometimes, as long as you eventually reach your destination. Wrong turns sometimes lead to the most beautiful destinations. And above all else, never forget that nobody is perfect or has to be perfect all the time.
So, I toast you with the words of our theme song:
“Here’s to us
Here’s to love
All the times that we messed up
Here’s to you
Fill the glass
‘Cause the last few days have kicked my ass
So let’s give ’em hell
Wish everybody well
Here’s to us.”
Health, happiness and good vibes to all!
