I tend to fret. I’m also fairly good at it, if I do say so myself.

And who doesn’t love cheese? Well, if your body tolerates dairy, that is.

Which also makes me fret. That mine does not, I mean.

I sometimes stress, too, that you might perceive the (unsolicited) advice I offer to be cheesy. Just cheesy enough to warrant an eye roll.

And the judgment I just might find most cringe-worthy would be that eye roll.

I am keenly acquainted with it, being an expert in that department myself.

And I suppose I likely fret so much about it because, those days when I’m feeling edgy, unsettled and just all over the freaking place, I can even annoy myself.

And I mean really, really fucking annoy myself.

Which, at the crux of it, is more indicative of the healing I have yet to do, and where I’m currently at on my own road from self-loathing to compassion and acceptance.

But all that judgment behind all that eye-rolling going on by whomever — myself included — really must be addressed.

Because if you did lob some my way, my guess is you heap tonnes more of it back on to yourself. And that can be a dark, heavy, relentless load to bear, can’t it?

So, here’s the thing:  If you think I’m being trite or dismissive and you’re frustrated with me and this close to screaming at your computer screen, “do I journal?? What? Where is the itemized list of concrete steps to take? What are the tools to use, already???”

If me continually urging you to be kinder and more patient with yourself has far surpassed being royally annoying…

I am here to break it to you — AGAIN — that that is exactly what you need.

“The truth will set you free,

but first it will piss you off.”

– Gloria Steinem

I still catch myself ALL. THE. TIME.  I would snatch my credit card out in a white-hot second for the latest pill, drink or program promising me a bikini body in 12 weeks.

Sign me up!

Zero care or consideration that I’m terrified of water and beach vacations aren’t even my thing. So what is even up with that?

I would absolutely dearly love for someone… anyone… to please just write me the correct prescription. And RIGHT NOW, already!

Well… honestly, yesterday, for fuck’s sake.

Really… eons ago.

If you’re still looking… hoping… praying… desperate for the quick fix, for something outside of yourself to remedy that battle going on within…

Sorry… not sorry

Well, actually, I am just a tad sorry.

But I’m here to remind you that there just is no magic pill.

And what if you actually didn’t need fixing at all?

How about… less fixing. More accepting.

“You’ve been criticizing yourself for years

and it hasn’t worked.

Try approving of yourself and see what happens.”

– Louise Hay

“You cannot hate yourself into happiness.” 

– Caroline Dooner