What Matters Most

Fiip Side Photo of the Day from Melissa Brown. Thanks!

Do you have a Flip Side Photo? Send to flipsidestories@aol.com.

I post a photo of the day on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/flipsidestories

 I have been challenged with poor self perception. I was gawky and skinny and not so pretty growing up. I struggled with self-perception. As I got older, I grew into myself...from the inside out. Having those challenges taught me to be  more  compassionate and more empathetic, I think. That little girl still lives within.  I still struggle with living in the shadow of that little insecure girl. I fight her all the time. I still look in the mirror and see her but I cherish her and tell her I am not that girl anymore. It is getting easier to do now.

Now I try to look in the mirror and look forward at the lion, not cougar, I am becoming. I actually feel more confident and sure of myself today than ever. I have an undying urge to help people. It often makes me cry in excitement.  I love inspirational stories and people. I want to change the world. Ok, maybe change the world is a big statement. Not all of it needs changing. I'd like to make a difference in the world. Leave my mark. I don't care about recognition for it. I just want to say I did something of value in the world while I am here and model it for my children. Leave that legacy for my kids. If they just say, "My mom worked her butt off to help people, teach children and love her family, " then mission completed. Hopefully, it will rub off on them. They are our future. Building the bridges and making the footprints for them to follow. 

So today, I hope to teach our children to see their lion and I encourage my friends and family and strangers alike, to see their lion today and not let the past define who they are. We define who we are by our actions and the love we share no matter how small. 

Mission: On Valentines Day, love those you know more today, love those you don't know, love those you will meet someday, love those who are hard to love, love those who don't "look" loveable but most of all,  love yourself the most.

"The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts. "
C. S. Lewis