Compliments, encouragement, nice words - they can be so small but do so much! I remember shortly after my 2nd child was born, I was in the middle of another awful year. Health problems, lacking finances, a new baby... sounds a lot like this year now that I think of it. I was standing in the front of the grocery store waiting on my husband and trying to balance having 2 kids. I was definitely one of those moms who, when the 2nd child is born a new sense of guilt is born with it. Trying to smile and entertain my 2 year old in the back of the shopping cart, while smothering my newborn with love in her carseat in the front. I was tired and anxious when I noticed an older man in a motorized shopping cart rolling by. He looked at me and without stopping said "you're a great mom." And just kept on going...
This afternoon as I was walking back to my car carrying my baby & corraling my preschooler after picking up my 2 oldest kids I got stopped by an aide. She wanted to say hi to my baby since she hadn't seen her in awhile. As we were quickly chatting she said "you've lost weight haven't you!?" And I said "oh I'm getting there" in my normal, self loathing voice. I meet many compliments with a note of sarcasm. I don't know why I do this, I actually really do love myself, but I reject compliments rather quickly for some reason.
As I got in my car and drove on I realized how nice that compliment felt. I've been too blind to pay attention to the fact that, yes I am loosing weight! How nice that someone else could take the time to say something nice (in the heat as she lead the crosswalk kids, no less!). I have been getting ready in the morning & getting irritated that most of the shirts I'm used to wearing are feeling baggy and missing the point: those extra inches are leaving! :)
I am still learning time after time that focusing on the positive is always the way to go. The gentleman at the store then reentered my mind after tucking that memory away for some time. He was a stranger, more so than the nice lady at the school. But both left memories in my mind that will continue making me smile as they pop back in every now and then. Compliments, no matter how small go such a long, long way. Take a minute to pat someone on the back. And when you receive acknowledgement, hold your head up, show gratitude, and pay it forward!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Be nice. When invoking your free speech right stop and think: I can say this, but should I? And remember Wazowski, I'm watching you... always watching.