This is my contribution to Frank’s Weekly Photo Challenge, Healthy. How did you know the perfect topic to pick? Boy, does this help me to forgive the nitty gritty of day-to-day life! : )
Today’s forgiving journal is about loving myself healthier!
When I was a little girl, I had struggles with my self-worth. I was chubby and a little insecure, and I didn’t like how I looked. As I grew up, this insecurity stayed, and I had a bout with anorexia and bulimia multiple times in my life.
The blessing of all of this is that I truly got to stand up and choose differently to LOVE MYSELF and to SEE THE GOOD IN MYSELF. It is a work in progress, still.
I realized today that I fell back into an old pattern of restricting food, and I’m too thin for my own health. What a good thing for me to see, and I am so grateful (did I say this already) for the willingness that I have to be vigilant about my self-care, and to forgive myself when I forget who I am and don’t treat myself with caring.
I forgive myself for judging myself for my insecurity both as a kid and now. I am aware of a limiting belief that I need to be different than who I am. So I forgive myself for judging myself for buying into the belief that I am not ok as I am. The truth is: I am a Beloved Child of God, and I KNOW IT more and more every day!
Today, for the first time in a while, I got a good look at what my body needs. It is my commitment to care for myself, and to give the message to that little girl in me that I mean what I say when I write this blog. I am seeing her face and giving her my word.
My spiritual teacher John-Roger has said that “health is loving who we are”. Boy do I know now that a part of loving who I am is putting my actions in line with taking care of myself.
I can not do this alone. I ask for Spirit to help me out, and I’m reaching out to let myself be supported now.
Please feel free to share your own experiences with self-care, and I hope this openness helps you to soothe the parts of you that are looking to be something different. You are beautiful exactly as you are.
Lots of love,
Debbie
Am am an estranged mother who has recently taken charge of caring of myself. I realize it is the one thing i can control. Best wishes!
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Wow this is beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I so honor you for your courage, your wisdom, and your self-care. Thanks also for visiting – you are welcome anytime. Blessings to you ❤ ~Debbie
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Well it’s not been perfect, but I’m stepping it up!
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You’re doing great! 🙂 (I think!) Bless YOU –Debbie
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Nice ❤ ❤ ❤
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Thank you! So lovely to hear from you. ❤ ❤ Sending you blessings and smiles, Debbie
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Yes, Debbie, the best person to take care of your health is you! Nice post! Have a wonderful week. Miriam
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Thank you, Miriam. So true!! We need to be the love that we are looking for !! And the funny thing is, we already are. Does that make sense? ❤ Anyway, loving you my friend. Thanks for your comments. Debbie
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You’re welcome, Debbie!!
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Beautiful words of courage and wisdom. Have a beautiful week.
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Thank you. I am so touched by your comments. It was like being touched by kindness. Sending you blessings for your week too! ~Debbie 🙂
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You are very welcome Debbie and it is you who deserved those words while the kindness is all yours. Have a beautiful week. Hugs
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Brave! Keep blessing yourself abundantly every day, as God does. Loving you.
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SUCH good advice – blessing myself abundantly every day. Words to live by, Anne 🙂
Sending you blessings as well my friend. I love you. Thanks for being here. ~Debbie
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Thank you for reaffirming that I’m on the right track for improving my self-care. I’ve moved away from the guilt of saying no to things that’ll put my mind & body under unnecessary pressure. I’m shedding all that guilt I used to have when spending time on looking after me. Why? Because I’m worth it 🙂
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Wow, Letisha!! That is amazing – I so acknowledge you for taking care of yourself without guilt. I’ve heard one of my spiritual mentors say that taking care isn’t “selfish” — it’s “selfing”. I love that and am so glad to see you DOING that! Many blessings for your week. You are definitely worth it! Love, Debbie 🙂
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Thank you Debbie. What a great word “selfing” is! You have a great week too 🙂
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Great post Debbie. I need to take more care with my diet right now and you have inspired me to get going…Have a wonderful week. 😍
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Oh yay!! Brigid that’s great, I’m so glad that this post was inspiring for you in your own diet. Feel free to message me on Facebook anytime …. if you’d like to share how it’s going, want some Light support, or anything else my friend. 🙂 Sending you blessings, Debbie
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Thank you Debbie. I really appreciate your friendship. Xx
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Beautiful post, and very courageous. Self-care is one of the strongest ways to get out of a mental rut, too. Both are related I find. It just sometimes takes a life-time, or at least a few good years, to realized that. I’m off to having a hearty, healthy breakfast now. 🙂
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Yay! So glad you were off to a healthy breakfast. I hope it was delicious! 🙂 YES I find as well that self-care helps me to be clear mentally – in my thoughts especially. Affirmations and meditation help too.
Thanks again for your contributions to Forgiving Fridays. You have a wonderful blog. Blessings, Debbie
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Thank you, Debbie, and so is your blog!
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I love that statement. Health is loving who you are! I’m going to remember that! My struggle with weight is eating too much of the wrong foods. At my age, it’s almost impossible to get off again.
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Yay so glad that you love “Health is loving who you are”!! So affirming, isn’t it? I’m sending you Light and blessings for your self-care especially with your weight. ❤ Thank you so much for sharing. (I may be able to support you with this. If you're interested, feel free to contact me at weloveyou@forgivingconnects.com) Many blessings, and thanks for being here. ~Debbie
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Taking care of yourself from the inside out is a great way to love yourself. Keep up the good work! Hope your week is off to a wonderful start!
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Aww thanks so much!!! You put a smile on my face. Continuing to love myself this day!! Yes.
My week is off to a lovely start – went to a “Loving My Expression” acting class last night. Hope your week is wonderful also. So glad you are here. 🙂 Blessings, Debbie
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Lovely post Debbie and touching such an important subject. Self-care is a must EVERY day. It’s easy to devote more time to nurturing others rather than ourselves. One of my favourite quotes is “Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”
Eleanor Brownn (with 2 ns)
Self-care does indeed start with self love. If we do not love ourselves, why would we choose to nurture and nourish self?
Blessings for the week ahead and may you nourish yourself with a loving vibration each day. 🙂 xx
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Hey Judith, this is a wonderful Eleanor Brownn, thank you. What a great vibration!
I really appreciate your caring and the wisdom of what you’re sharing with me. You are a sweetheart, and I’m blessed to know you. ❤ I will have a loving week, and you TOO! Blessings, Debbie
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Thank you for this beautiful sharing of acceptance and assurance, Debbie. The quote by Rumi is so profound too! May you feel and receive all the support, as much as I feel and receive from your post.
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Oh thank you! Acceptance is one of the keys to self-loving, isn’t it? ❤ So glad you're here and got value and received support from this post. That is so great !!!! Sending you many blessings, thank you, thank you for sharing your caring with me. 🙂 I am smiling right now. 🙂 Debbie ps – how's your son's poetry?
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You are most welcome 🙂
He is blessed with knowing that his poetry is appreciated 🙂 Hasn’t shared with me anything more yet.
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Oh Debbie good for you. It’s hard to see ourselves how others see us. It’s important to listen to our bodies when they are telling us what we need. That’s awesome that you recognized that.
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Thank you, Lacey! Funny you say that. Someone just gave me feedback how good I was in a “loving your expression” class – I hadn’t seen this. It’s good sometimes to get feedback so that we know when we’re not seeing how great we really are. Take care of yourself too, Lacey. I am grateful to know you! How did we find each other, anyway? 🙂 Debbie
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Beautiful post as ever. We care enough to put fuel into our cars, keep them running smoothly and regularly serviced, yet so often we neglect the amazing thing that is our body! I think most people can relate to feelings of lack of self worth and poor body confidence. I struggled with this as a teen, but now have a much more healthy image of myself. As you say, we are all beloved beautiful parts of God’s creation. Thank you for bravely sharing part of your journey x
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Aww thank you Rebecca!! So glad that you have a healthy image of yourself, what a great attest to your loving relationship with your body!! We are all Beloved, and I am learning more and more about that with this blog. I am so glad you’re here. Blessings of love, gentle kindness, and forgiveness to you, Debbie
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You truly are beautiful just as you are Debbie! Yes my beautiful friend.. love and care for yourself xxx
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Oh Wendy! Thank you for saying this. It means a lot. ❤ And congrats on the new look (and newsletter!) for your blog. So much love and blessings to you, Debbie
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You’re very welcome Debbie and I hope you’re taking it to heart because I mean it!! And… I appreciate your lovely feedback on my ‘new look’ site too.. it’s getting there slowly but surely .. xx
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The more I read your posts, Debbie the more I see your strength and beauty. I love this, health is loving who you are. That’s what we are striving for! Blessings to you💕🌈🙏
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Oh, Mary, so much loving to you. Glad that you see my strength and beauty – to me, that is so much about what I’m doing on this blog … sharing it and deepening the truth of who I am as my everyday experience. You have such a wonderful presence and lovely blog. Thank you, thank you for being here, and for sharing yourself with your blog!! Loving to you, Mary – Debbie
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Thank you for your kind and loving words. I’m happy you are here and me being here fills my soul. Have a wonderful day. I’m excited because I’m picking up my son from college, moving home for the summer. I’m proud that I can drive to the city alone and do it.😉💗🌈
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Oh, Mary that’s so great! I hope you had (or have, if you haven’t gone yet) a fantastic trip to pick up your son! What a wonderful opportunity to be with him. Sending you both loving. And congrats for driving to the city and expanding!! Very courageous I think. Love and blessings, Mary — Debbie
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Thank you, Debbie. It was yesterday and even though I drove white knuckled through busy parts, I made it. I like being independent and being able to do it without my husband. I think he is proud of me too.Blessings to you❤️😎🌈
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Thank you for sharing your story and experiences on this blog. And thank you for You! I’m so glad that I found this blog. Your expression and will to love and care for yourself everyday inspires me to do the same. Thank you for sharing your journey and loving practice with us. ❤
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Oh Shirley! I am so touched by your comments. Thank you!! I’m really glad that this blog inspires you to love and care for you, too. You are so welcome for sharing my journey – it’s a gift and blessing to do so. So glad you are here & that we connected via wordpress. Much love!! ❤
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So right Debbie– watching our health and doing the right thing is important! take care friend! xox
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Thank you so much, Rhonda. I really get the love and caring of your post! xo Have a beautiful rest of your day, and loving you much. Hugs! Debbie
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I lost a dear close friend to Anorexia many years ago, it was such a heartbreaking time. Be kind to yourself Debbie and honor and look after the beautiful woman that you are. Hugs to you xo
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Oh Miriam, wow. I am so sorry. ❤ Sending you big hugs, and thank you for sharing that with me. I will be kind with myself, thank you for saying that. It's a good reminder for me. Be gentle with yourself too, Miriam! We are so worth it. Hugs and I love you!! (Funny I was just thinking of you and how I wanted to go visit your blog) Love, Debbie
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Aw Debbie, thank you. We all need reminders to be kind and gentle with ourselves, but we’re so worth it! Love and warmest wishes to you my friend xo
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it’s always a work in progress. keep it up.
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Oh Nicole, thank you so much! I appreciate your caring comment. Thanks for visiting and many blessings to you. 💜 Debbie
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PS have a wonderful week 😊😊
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AMAZING!! ✨🙏
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Oh thank you so much! Lovely to meet you. 🙂 Many blessings. Debbie
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