You are beautiful...

For a long time I was that girl... the one I often hear from today, trying to understand what was so wrong with me that I attracted the wrong types, had disastrous relationships and dating experiences, and couldn't find the love or respect I felt I deserved.

A tough lesson, but one I continue to learn... living and learning. No one will love you or see how beautiful you are, until you love and see how beautiful you are yourself.  Perhaps the simplest, yet most difficult lesson to learn. It's easy to look at someone else and think they have it easy. I've watched those closest to me who seem to have it figured out. The common denominator... they believe they are worth it. They are willing to walk away, they choose to be in relationships because they want to be, not because they need to be, and believe they would be just as strong and happy standing alone on their own two feet.

I watched a best friend, who is in an amazing relationship, go toe to toe to let her other half know that she was not going to tolerate a behaviour, to the point that she reminded him that she could walkaway. I asked if her she really meant it, knowing how much she loved him. She said absolutely! If that's the way he's going to be, I don't need it.  It blew my mind... But what blew my mind more, was how much he respected her for calling him out, how sorry he was, and how much he truly appreciated and valued his relationship with her. What at first I thought might have been an abrupt approach that I might not have tried as I hate the conflict, actually grew the respect and appreciation in their relationship.

So what is the problem... the problem is when we fail to recognize that we are one of a kind! We have a choice, we are beautiful and if someone doesn't love us for who we are, then someone else will. The many times I have felt stuck, "in a rut", and I've looked to my friends for guidance begging them to tell me how to move forward, they've said the same thing... you just do... one foot in front of the other.  For those of you stuck in this rut, two of my favourite quotes:

"How do you make a life? Put one foot in front of the other, make some choices, take some chances..."

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious, and curiousity keeps leading us down new paths" ~ Walt Disney