Do you love yourself?

One thing I adore about my passion for photography is taking a moment, a memory in time and freezing it forever – and those moments looking and feeling as natural as they truly are – afterall we do not live our life posing – that to me is not “true” memories. You have to feel comfortable and be happy, if you feel happy you will look AMAZING!

I read this article online a few days ago and LOVED it! I just didn’t have a chance to share it.  This is the link… the title. ‘Most runway models meet the BMI criteria for anorexia’, claims plus-size magazine in powerful comment on body image in the fashion industry

This article is wonderful, not only writes about how a “plus” size model is now a size 12 and up, it gives a comparison of a very skinny model vs a “plus” size model. Who then whole heartly embraces her beautiful curves.

Why did I chose to post about this? I have heard so many moms comment about themselves negatively, we would get family photos buuuuut… I dont like that shot because…. We dont need many of us just the kids… I hate getting my photo taken…

The thing is ALL of thes women are beautiful! And not just on the outside. I myself am a curvy lady and sure everyone has their days of saying oh I wish this, I wish that, but really and truly when it all comes down… I love my body I have because its a reflection of who I truly am. My body changed when I became a mom, I embrace those motherly curves. Just as every mother should.

We are beautiful on the outside, but what truly counts is what is on the inside. Beauty truly comes from within, if you as a woman can truly say you are proud of yourself, your accomplishments, your family and you as a person – would you want to be friends with the “real” you. Not the “you” at times we can all pretend to be. Its your values, belief’s, your ethics and morals which truly make a person. Can you truly say you are happy?

I am very thankful that at this point in my life, I am beginning this new year 2012 with the ability to say Yes, I truly am happy. In all the areas of my life which truly matter, I am happy. With happiness comes confidence and with confidence comes power. A positive attitude brings strength, energy and initiative. Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative and more happiness. It truly is a circle.

As a woman I do not focus on the size of my body, nor have I made that a focus for my children or my husband to focus on their’s. I focus on health and happiness. If you are healthy, be happy with who YOU really are, how your body was made.

However… Happiness comes from deep within… happiness has many factors which includes all areas of our lives. If you aren’t truly happy with yourself as a person you can never truly share yourself as a mother with your children. See your children do not care how big you are, your children love you for you. God forbid something happen to you… your kids WILL want those photos.

Many years of my own photos its rare to see me in any, however as the kids are getting older I am making a point to not only capture them in their life growing and their memories but also to ensure I capture our memories, me with the kids, my husband with the kids and us as a family.

So to all the mom’s out there… you ARE beautiful! If you dont feel beautiful, if you dont feel happy, honestly ask yourself why? While I was off healing from my surgery I was catching up on Ellen and watched the episode where Lady Gaga was on… who explained the meaning behind “Marry the Night”, its about embracing the darkness in your life, accepting it and moving forward. How many of you moms out there focus on the negative, rather than the positive. I’ll admit I can be guilty of it.

BUT everytime I look at our beautiful children, hear them laugh, see them smile, see the happiness in their eyes (yes they are not always cute and happy 😉 ) how could I waste life focusing on the negatives. Think positive, if your life isn’t happy make it happy and truly love yourself! Capture those amazing memories your family is right now making and they will forever be there to treasure!

Now I challenge all you moms out there… when was the last time you got in a photo with your kids… go and do it! Put aside your own personal negatives, fears, self consciousness and be YOU.

A few appropriate quotes …

Of all the judgments you make in life, none is as important as the one you make about yourself. The difference between low self-esteem and high self-esteem is the difference between passivity and action, between failure and success.
Nathaniel Branden

The strongest single factor in prosperity consciousness is self-esteem. Believing you can do it, believing you deserve it, believing you will get it.
Jerry Gillies

We will discover the nature of our particular genius when we stop trying to conform to our own or to other people’s models, learn to be ourselves, and allow our natural channel to open.
Shakti Gawain

I of course have to post a photo… this is one of my fav’s from the fall, we had just gotten our new family pup and were out on our boat. Nope not looking perfect by any means, but I love it for the memories it holds ❤