I'M NOT A BATHING BEAUTY ANYMORE

Becoming More Self-Aware As You Age

August and September are often dubbed as Self-Awareness and Mental Health months. Over the years, I have discovered that self-awareness and self- acceptance are probably two of the major keys to happiness. Learning to identify one’s own thoughts, feelings and behaviors allows us to take care of ourselves, adapt to new situations and interact with others more effectively. It may take a lifetime to become more self-accepting or a quick private moment of realization. In a salute to good mental health, I am re-posting an older blog of mine today about an “ah-ha” moment I had because many of you are new subscribers. I hope you enjoy it, and it encourages you to assess your own thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BODY?

 I was so skinny as a kid.  I actually had to drink peanut butter milkshakes to gain weight.  As I aged, I noticed my once flat teenage stomach started to look  like a football --  then a full-blown mat ball. I was shocked. My daughter tried to reassure  me I had small legs, but  I didn’t really find it funny   that I looked  like a Tootsie Pop.

I tried bargaining with God. I promised to  work out and watch my diet if He’d help me  look younger and thinner. In the beginning I loved talking to  Melissa at US Fitness;  but when she insisted we do aerobics, I  had a hard time  getting both of my feet going in the same direction.  When I almost decapitated a guy with one of those big exercise balls, I called it quits. Ha!

But finally sitting on the beach one summer, I became a little more self-aware.

I actually admired the biggest man I’d  ever seen trying to fit under a beach umbrella as his wife emptied a whole can of suntan spray on him.  He grinned ear to ear as a tattooed lady happily gyrated on his biceps.

For a moment, I was afraid an osprey would mistake the  tiny old lady in a droopy bathing suit for a tasty morsel as she crouched down to look at seashells.  But then I cheered her aging body when she managed to stand back up with sparkling eyes and a beautiful Lace Murex in her wrinkled hands.  

And I could really  feel the excitement coming from the crooked-shaped grandpa standing along the shoreline looking  at dolphins through  his binoculars. He was more than ready to capture life with  the camera hanging around his pencil-like neck.

Suddenly, I realized I had been holding the false belief that there was a required “ look” for happiness. Identifying and releasing that stereotype — accepting the idea that JOYFUL, happy people come in all shapes and sizes — was such a wonderful blessing.

I was so relieved to be done grieving  my youthful body that I promised myself I’d  never buy  another magazine with a cover that said, “9-Week Plan to a Strong,  Sexy You.”  And I proudly announced to my daughter I would be dancing all the way down the beach  from now on to my new  anthem “This Is Me”  from “The Greatest Showman.”

Self-Awareness, Self-Acceptance — such wonderful things.

It’ll Be OK.

~~~

“For all the young people getting tattoos: Be Careful! A butterfly on the back becomes a buzzard in the crack when you get older.” ~ Pinterest

COMMENT: CAN YOU REMEMBER A TIME YOU HAD AN AH-HA MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE?