THE BEST PART OF YOURSELF....

 AGELESS WITH AUNTY

 

Did you ever feel like you lost a part of yourself? When Aunty died last year a part of me went with her. I am on the path to reclaiming that joyful child-like Renee. The one who started this blog with pure joy in her heart with Aunty by her side.

If you look at the last post you could say I  am making a good comeback. The part of me that was taken away when Aunty passed is the part of me that was most like her. She was the quintessential child at heart. She loved to dress up in big hats and hide behind the door when I came home. She was always happy and radiant. Her smile could make your day. That youthful, vivacious, optimist is the part of me that I  like best and miss most. By reviving that part of myself in some way it’s like bringing Aunty back too. Or at very least, honoring her great indomitable spirit.  

Even though most of the pictures on this blog are happy ones, during the last year in the wake of losing Aunty, the times in-between those happy pictures were not always so bright. Whereas before Aunty passed as long as we were together we were happy ALL THE TIME. It has not been easy to carry on without her. And regardless of how it might appear on the blog, I haven’t been carrying on all that well without her until now. I feel like I am making a comeback (even though I still miss that girl with all my heart). She is the best part of who I am.

 

If you want to reclaim a part of yourself that has gone missing….just take some time to relax and pay attention to the voice/vision inside. It is time to reclaim the best part of yourself. And it’s never too late. Just throw your hands in the air and stand your ground. Shouting "I'm back" is optional.

WHAT ARE YOUR PICTURES SAYING...

This little light of mine...

Have you ever taken the time to see who you really are? Pick up a picture and take a close look at yourself. Let’s take the above picture for example. When I look at this photo I can see myself clearly. The hat alone shows a funky and creative side.  I have heard people say that it takes a bit of confidence to wear hats. The sunflower in the pink vase shows a lot of color and love of nature. The long faux braid exhibits a fun and whimsical style. The white bathing suit represents someone who respects their body and puts an emphasis on staying healthy. The picture on the table of Auntie and Gracie is just a little reminder of love all over the house. I keep framed pictures and books everywhere. The pink and purple barrettes hopefully show a youthful and playful side. Even the mug of white tea shows a dedication to health. The blue cup itself is revealing. It’s from the meditation center I attend. I am able to look at this snapshot and smile because this one random, unplanned, picture captures my true essence of who I am, and what I am all about. That's a good thing because, i have found that life is just that much easier to handle when we know who we are, and feel good about it.  

Why don't you try it? Examine a fairly recent photo of yourself. What do you see? There has to be something that you like. Perhaps you’re holding a child. Does this make you happy? Is the child smiling? What does this say about who you really are? Maybe you are more caring and compassionate than you are aware of. Are you standing next to someone you love? Maybe this has a lot to do with what's inside of you. Are you holding hands? Are you in love with that person? What colors are you wearing? Are you indoors or out? Are you on a wild ride at an amusement park, zipping through the air? Maybe this shows your true sense of adventure. Could you be petting, or tending to your favorite pet? You might be a profound animal lover making more of God’s creatures happy.

It might take a little courage to really look at yourself, but, take a moment to find what's going on inside of you. Capture it! And let it shine…. (and for some reason if you are not happy with what you see, take a dip in the ocean, wash it away, then start over).

When you are more comfortable and at peace with who you really are, you are more comfortable and at peace with everyone around you. This creates a lot more smiles on the planet. So get those digital cameras out and start snapping away… find out where you may have been hiding some of your beauty. And, if it’s already there, embrace it, enjoy it, and then share it. That way, you’ll get even more. That’s just how it works. God is good.