EMBRACE YOUR UNIQUENESS

I had a post all planned out for today, but the weather yesterday was definitely not conducive to taking photographs. 

Old man winter raised his ugly head in Atlanta. Temperatures were in the 30s and I awoke to the sound of rain and freezing rain hitting my windows.

I hope all the flowers don't freeze

Wednesday was a lovely day of meeting in person and having breakfast with Cassandra, who is a longtime reader of my blog. Cassandra used to write a blog, but like many bloggers let it go when life got in the way.

We immediately started talking and didn't stop for two hours. It was lovely. We are now more than just blogging friends, we are in person friends. She will hopefully be moving here in a couple of years and I look forward to seeing more of her. 

Yesterday, Brenda at Cozy Little House wrote about her diagnosis of Asperger's and how the diagnosis has changed her life. You can read about that here.

If you have been reading my blog for awhile you know that I am a retired mental health counselor, who focused on women's issues.

Reading Brenda's post reminded me of how important it is for women to embrace their uniqueness. As we get older I think this becomes much easier for us to do, but I also know that as women we are often put in a box that has been dictated by society. 

That box can put so many artificial constraints on us that we often lose our true selves. We compare ourselves to the so called perfect woman, but there isn't one perfect woman. We are all perfect because we are unique.

Life becomes so much simpler when we discover our uniqueness, because we are no longer constrained by artificial norms.  

So yesterday, I sat listening to the rain and thinking about the things that make me unique. I learned long ago that there are plenty of people who don't like me for one reason or another, but it's okay. It is most important that I am true to myself and like who I am. 

I will always be outspoken. I will always fight for the underdog. I love my family. I am a little bit quirky. While everyone else is straightening their hair I just let mine be its natural curly self. I love dangly earrings. I am a chatty introvert who loves other people , but who is equally happy being by myself. If you make me really mad, I have a temper. The list goes on, but you get the idea.

Love yourself. Embrace your uniqueness. Don't let anyone else tell you who you should be. 

P.S. The sun is supposed to be out all weekend, so hopefully on Monday I will have photographed my new thrifted finds and can share them, along with a couple of those things that I am using in my home.