As beautiful as life can be, it can also be mean, disappointing, difficult, unfair and painful at times. After some experiences life threw my way I used to think that I would never be happy nor find a way to love and respect myself. One day I was so tired of my complaining and came to the conclusion that I still had a life and what I required from it would be entirely up to me. I made a choice then and there that I would not let my past experiences bring me down anymore, I would use them as lessons. I was going to try and use the wisdom I had gained to help others. I wanted more happiness in my days and while I was trying to practice positivity it just wasn’t happening. So I started to do some ME work – meditating and yoga to try and calm the inner storm brewing within. One thing led to another and I found myself in Puerto Rico at a raw food school where they teach you how to heal your body through food, inner peace and the most important one of all – SELF LOVE. I was too skinny for my body type and height and also suffered from bad skin; plain and simple I was NOT happy nor healthy. My emotions and self-esteem were weighing me down. I went there to learn and be better at being me. I wanted to heal, eat well and nourish my body and soul.
Once there I met a woman whom was teaching and she was so inspiring to me. I don’t believe she knows just how much she changed my life. I would like to share what I learned from her with you in the hopes that it might help. Anyone out there who feels a bit lost or maybe even just needs a little encouragement can follow this.
After a conversation with her about my health, feelings and thoughts she told me, “Johanna, now relax and release your 
thoughts toward your heart. Imagine that you have a little daughter, the love you have for her, things you will and want to do for her. The words you use to speak to her. Imagine hugging her and showing her how much you care. The protection she gets from you. Keep her safe from all the bad words people use against one another. The food you will make for her will include all the best ingredients you can find. The most healthy food possible so she can grow strong and stay healthy all her life. Now imagine that little girl is YOU. Why don’t you provide yourself with all these things? Why are we not so generous with ourselves?”Now that is a very good question, isn’t it?
Well this was a turning point for me and I hope this little story can help you as well. Put yourself in the same position. I am sure there will be quite a long list of things to change right away. For an example, how we choose to speak to ourselves. It’s hard to be happy when someone is mean to you all the time. As our days get busy and we have so many things to do, a family to take care of, dinner to make and the list goes on and on.. we tend to forget the most important thing – US. To keep our children and partner happy and relaxed we must also be the same way. Taking good care of ourselves benefits the people we live with and care for. Love and beauty really come from within; this is a fact. A happy mom breeds happy kids which results in a bigger heart, more patience, warmer hugs and tender kisses. At the end of the day these things are really the most important and many times they are the most forgotten.
I am still on this journey. I keep making mistakes. But I think that it’s okay and quite normal because this is how life is. It makes me feel less guilty if I continuously make an effort to learn from my mistakes. And in the mean time just give every day your best.
love, JM