“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Be gentle with yourself, they have said.
Remember you are a fragile soul, I have read.
Even the kindest words can be poison.
Because I have only listened to those words when fear or grief has caused me pain.
And instead of making me healthier, they caused a kind of paralysis.
Because sometimes we need to be gentle with ourselves, and sometimes we need permission to play small.
But now that we are grown-up, most times we need know that we are strong and capable and that we have what it takes to take the next step.
Most times the best course of action is not to stay fragile.
Most times the best course of action is to put on our big girl pants or our invisible crown and prove to ourselves that we have got this.
It’s our internal Supernanny that we need, not our fairy godmother.
Take the chance. Make the leap. Sit on the naughty step. Get off your ass. Clean your house. Eat your greens. Play bigger. Get dressed. Make the call. Move your body. Do the math. Book the ticket. Take responsibility.
You’ve got this.
xo
When I was a teen-ager I decided I wanted to do yoga. Typically, rather than go to a class I read a book about it. The book I chose told me all about the diet and the philosophy and it freaked me out. Be a vegetarian? Meditate? At 16? You might as well have asked me to go to Mars. What would people think?