Finding Ninee » Sharing our parenting and special needs stories with heart and humor.

What I Love About Being Me

“What do I love about myself?” I ask. The devil on my shoulder is quick to answer.  “NOTHING. You’re mean to you and you don’t know how to love you.” she says. Which is, of course, completely ridiculous because everybody knows how to love themselves, right? (and er, no, not like *that* pervos)
I mean, sure, self care is hard and all that. It can be close to impossible to say “no” when we want or need to.

Seeing how ridiculous it is that my devil’s first reaction is to say “Nothing,” the angel who lives on my other shoulder is kind, although maybe a little annoyed. “Oh come on. That’s not true. You love SOMETHING about you!”

And I think “Yes, yes, I do love me. I’m worthy of love, especially of myself, dumb devil!”

It’s too easy to see everything I’d change about myself if I had a magic wand. 10 years younger? Please. Six pack abs? Having those would be fun if I didn’t have to work so hard to get them. Plus, nachos.

Society raises us to be full of self-doubt. “Make a joke about yourself, first,” I remember hearing. And so I do. I make jokes about myself to be funny. But what does making jokes about ourselves do to us? It can’t be good. And nobody should feel the need to joke about themselves to feel more comfortable in social situations. And yet. This is what we learn. This is what we do.

Because it’s so easy to see all the things wrong with me, and I know it’s the same of most of us, I wanted this week’s Finish the Sentence to remind each of us that we’re unique, lovable, and have some really cool aspects we share with the world. So tonight, I’m sharing what I love about being me.

The devil is all “LOL, Dummy. This should be fun since you never say anything nice to yourself. I’m getting popcorn.”

The angel is all “Hey now… are you a good friend? A good mom?” and I think, “I am!”

What I Love About Being Me

I’m a good friend (the devil adds “mostly” which is probably true). I’m a good mom (again, the devil adds “mostly” which is also likely true but I’m going with it).

I love that I don’t stress when I only leave myself an hour to do these posts. Do I chastise myself each week, and say “Just do it early next week?” Of course. But I don’t stress about it any longer. If Finish the Sentence isn’t live until tomorrow, I’m ok with that. I love this about myself, mostly because this wouldn’t have been the case in earlier blogging days.

I love that I have a sense of humor, and can crack myself up in a bunch of situations. Not everybody can do this (Robert).

I love that I know how to create graphics and words, even though I’m terrible about geography and directions.

I love that I’m good at ideas. Once, I even won an award for being the best idea person at work. That feels long ago (shut up, devil) but the award is a beautiful glass plate from Greece hanging on my wall to remember.

I love that I feel and connect so deeply, even though I sometimes turn that off. I ugly-cry at stories that involve babies, animals, and nurses showing up. At humans showing up. I cry at unforgettable moments, and anticipated ones. I grieve some moments, before they’re even gone.

I love that even when I don’t completely feel like it, I show up for Finish the Sentence Friday. That I share, because sharing matters.

I asked Tucker what he loves about himself. He said “That I can at least always find something to do.” Also, “That I’m here, and not dead” (it bothers me greatly that he thinks of this, but I understand, as we experienced a lot of loss just two summers ago).

“That I have friends and Nugget so I’m not lonely” (side note, he just tried to pick her up and she dog-screamed and I got annoyed and yelled, so the good mom, good friend to Nugget things may be questionable, at least some of the time).

“One time, I made you laugh so hard you cried,” he said. Then, “I love that I’m not a girl because girls have to experience periods…” Hm. Can’t argue with him on the period thing.

“I’m kind and funny,” he added. And then, “That I have you and you’re a cool mom” (I don’t care if that was kissup or not, I’m taking it).

This has been a Finish the Sentence Friday post, with the prompt “I love these things about myself…”

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  • Kristi - I don’t know if I’ll get around to writing a post to link-up, but I wanted to let you know that this is a topic I’ve thought about quite a bit lately. I always thought I was mostly positive, had good self-esteem, etc., but I recently realized the thing you mentioned about self-deprecating humor. Also the fact that every morning I started the day with “Ugh” when the scale didn’t cooperate, which was most mornings. I’ve been making a conscious effort to think about what I am thankful for about being me. I don’t know if this topic comes to the forefront because middle-age, moving to another state, or (in my case) having an empty-nest after years of child-rearing, but whatever the reason, I can relate! (Oh, and for a quick partial answer to the “What do I love” question, I love that I have a strong body and that I can almost every day quickly solve the Cryptoquip puzzle in the newspaper!)May 2, 2019 – 9:44 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Kristi, I hope you will link-up. This topic isn’t something I’ve thought much about until recently. I started therapy and have realized that (aside from being Tucker’s mom), that I don’t do much for myself, and certainly need to work on loving myself more.
      I’d say forget the scale – the amount of hugely difficult runs you’ve done is inspiring and awesome. Strong body for SURE. And being able to quickly solve the Cryptoquip puzzle is nothing to sneeze at! xoxoMay 3, 2019 – 5:22 pmReplyCancel

  • Jena - I love this.May 3, 2019 – 5:08 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Aw thanks, Jena. It’s shocking to me how hard it is to just be loving with myself. xoMay 3, 2019 – 5:22 pmReplyCancel

  • Tamara - I love that you asked Tucker! I asked Scarlet what she thought I would write her and I should have asked her what she’d answer about herself! Doh! Not too late.
    And I love that you do these last minute. Me too! I think I’m mentally incapable of doing creative things with time in advance. I just can’t!May 3, 2019 – 8:22 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I’m glad I’m not alone in the last minute thing. I just canNOT when it comes to the in advance thing. I want to know what Scarlet says about loving herself! Not too late!May 3, 2019 – 5:23 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - That is a great “exercise” in self-love and one that we should all do more often!! Tucker’s answers were awesome too. 🙂May 3, 2019 – 11:54 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - It’s only been recently that I realize how easy it is for me to dismiss any positive qualities, etc. This exercise just shouldn’t be this hard, you know?May 3, 2019 – 5:24 pmReplyCancel

  • SpecialMomma - Your humor. That is definitely what hooked me to you when we first met. Anyone who can find the real humor in boring or stressful situations is someone of strength and creativity. Tucker clearly loves your humor and how hard you let yourself laugh. It’s so good for our kids to see us be funny and even laugh at ourselves. This post makes me miss you even more!!May 3, 2019 – 8:32 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Aw, I miss you too! A LOT! Here’s to being silly and awesome for our kids. I know you get it because I’ve seen you be that way with yours! It’s good for us and them.May 3, 2019 – 9:28 pmReplyCancel

  • Lizzi - There was a time you wouldn’t even have allowed this topic for FTSF because it would have been so tough. I’m proud of you for it and definitely agree there is lots and lots of good about you for you to love, and I’m glad you’re seeing it (even with a few ‘mostly’s chucked in) xxMay 4, 2019 – 3:07 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I know! I chose it because of how icky it felt and because I *know* that it should not feel icky, you know? xoxoMay 5, 2019 – 5:39 pmReplyCancel

  • Kenya G. Johnson - I laughed at (Robert). And I’m pretty uptight about being on blog on time, I guess that’s why I couldn’t keep up with having to post once a week on purpose. Sorry x one million for bailing. If the day doesn’t get away from me, I’d love to try to write a post for this – 10 things style. I’d really love to know that I can come up with 10 things.May 5, 2019 – 12:59 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Hey no worries for bailing! I promise that I completely and totally understand. I’d love to read your list if you end up posting! One of them can be your new haircut and another that you learned to like football. Those are pretty cool things!May 5, 2019 – 5:41 pmReplyCancel

  • Christine Carter - I have a devil on my shoulder telling me so many things I don’t like about myself so… I get THIS. But I love that you see those incredible things to love about yourself too. There are SO MANY MORE, but that’s a good start. <3May 8, 2019 – 8:58 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Why are our inner voices so mean to us when they’re so forgiving and loving of others? We need to be nice to us right? Here’s to loving ourselves better! xoMay 9, 2019 – 8:23 amReplyCancel

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