When I was a teenager, I had the most amazing Sunday School teacher. She was a life line for me. she was the only adult in my neighborhood, with the exception of my own parents, that LIKED me. That TALKED to me. That treated me like I was a real, live person. Because I think a lot of adults forget that kids are people. Especially teenagers. We may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but we're not idiots. (Well, most of us.)
Anyhow, after a particularly rough time, I remember sitting in her class, and sher asking all of us "So, how was your week?" And I didn't answer. I couldn't meet her eyes, because if I did, I knew I would start to cry.
Sitting in the classroom that day, this woman offered a simple piece of advice. She said that we should write what we want on a post-it, and stick it on the mirror. Then we should write another post-it, and stick it on our door. She told us to put those danged things everywhere we looked, and to stop, and read them... To repeat the words that we had written.... She promised that if we did that, we would see our lives change right before our eyes.
Being the socially inept awkward thing that I was, I went home and I did just that.
She was right.
In the beginning, it was a little hard. "You have straight teeth" Gah. I. KNOW.
Then it was "You're funny." Sheesh, of COURSE I'm funny.
Next came "You are a great writer", "You make people comfortable", "You are amazing"....
It took a long time, but thanks to the advice of that lady, and a stack of post-its, I figured out who I was. I learned to accept myself, and to love myself...
To this day, if I'm having a hard time, or if people are driving me nuts, I write myself a note. Then I stick it on the fridge. Or the mirror. Or the steering wheel.
"You're a great mom"
"Remember the MOMENTS"
"They will go to bed"
Because sometimes, I need a visual. And sometimes? I think you might need one too.
