Celebrate Yourself

[only_more_love]

I don't know why this is so, but it is often easier for us to believe the worst about ourselves than it is to believe the best.  This is especially the case for women.  Yes, there are exceptions; I'm aware I'm making huge generalizations here.  I'm a woman, and I see it in other women (and men) all the time.  We find it difficult to accept a genuine compliment or own our accomplishments and strengths. 

So, in the spirit of giving equal time to what is good in us, ignore the voice that says you're stupid or unworthy or unattractive,  and instead please write down at least one of your accomplishments or strengths.  Post it in your LJ, comment here anonymously or under your username,  or tape it on your refrigerator.  Just write it somewhere.   Don't limit yourself to one; if you can think of fifty, well, write down fifty. 

If you're comfortable with posting it here, go right ahead.  We don't need to be LJ "friends."  If you can read this post, you are more than welcome to respond to it.  And there's no expiration date on this post, so respond whenever you feel like it.

*pats the seat next to me*  Come--claim your gifts. 

**-**-**-**

I love the following poem.  No point in boring you with my interpretation; I'll just say that it speaks to me, and it might speak to you, too. 

Still I Rise
by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

 

Comments

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

I'm proud that I know how to listen--especially to people who think they don't have a voice.

[dabhug.livejournal.com]

People tell me that I'm comforting and a good listener.

I am the first woman (and the second person) in all my family to finish college. I completed two degrees in 4 1/2 years. It wasn't easy, but I never gave up on myself.

I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and doggone it, people like me.

Thank you for the poem. It speaks loudly to me as well.

[fangirlgonewild.livejournal.com]

I am bold enough (or crazy enough) to follow my almost-impossible career path.

And, I stand my ground on issues I think are important. Backing down is not an option. (Though compromise is.)

[tempertemper77.livejournal.com]

Friends tell me I'm generous (my husband would probably say to a fault). I feel a need to take care of people. I guess this is a good quality.

Funny how few responses this has so far - I guess you're right, people find it hard to say nice things about themselves!

[makd.livejournal.com]

I love you, my dear, for posting one of my favorite poems by one of my favorite poets. ::hugs you tight::

[pipergirl07.livejournal.com]

I push the envelope and am never happy with status quo. I also like to think that I'm funny, because I always seem to make people laugh :)

[rollsofrice.livejournal.com]

To say I'm humble would be ironic, although that's the only thing I will allow myself to admit.

Thank you for posting this and the poem, though. It helped me a lot.

[freevortex.livejournal.com]

I see through, in between, and around those masks people make for themselves to the person inside. It isn't important to me what they look like- hey, most of my friends at school are the 'nerds' (and other girls always ask me why I hang around with them)- mostly because the 'jocks' or the 'preps' are waaay to shallow for me, but I just don't care because you know what? My friends are smart and funny and kind and caring. :)
(just had to say this somewhere; the shallowness and all-around meanness of some people at my school has been killing me lately. The need for a 'social status', the gossip...)