Be Graceful With Yourself

Today, I was driving down the street and I noticed a young man from the neighborhood walking down the street. Willy is a full time musician. He is a very talented saxaphone player and decided quite a while ago that despite the hardships, financial and otherwise, that he wanted to pursue his dream no matter what.

I saw him, Waved, Beeped, Smiled… and drove past thinking about how much I admired him for his choice. For pursuing his passion. For being an artist at all costs. For just reaching for it.

Then it hit me… I am so hard on myself- yet, aren’t I doing the same thing? Reaching for my passion of helping other people be successful in this healthy lifestyle journey? Despite financial struggles and the struggle of figuring out who I am in a new role and place in life, despite the uncertainty of being unemployed… I am pursuing my passion too.

So- as much as he is deserving and has recieved my admiration for his courage and fortitude in the face of some potentially difficult odds- aren’t I just as deserving? Shouldn’t I be giving myself just a little more credit? Shouldn’t I be as proud of myself as I am of him!

I should be, I believe! One of the gals in my Nutrition School study group made a comment in our first meeting that has stuck with me- she said “I am trying to be graceful with myself.” I love that concept, that idea. Allow yourself the grace you allow others. Allow yourself to be kind to you. To fill your dream with grace, freedom and room to figure it all out- without being so hard on yourself. I need to be better at that! (Ah there I go again!)

Have you given yourself the grace you deserve lately?