A little post for me today....a letter to myself....
Today has brought a sweet sense of acceptance....I have grown tired of always measuring my own worth based on my view of others....I think it's OK to admire and look up to others....I need to always push myself to try harder and do better....but I need to remember to love myself and the person I am right now....time to stop being so hard on myself....look back on the day and smile for the things I did accomplish, even though I may have not gotten everything done....time to stop trying to be and do like others...we all have our strengths and our weaknesses...but we are each important and loved in ways that we cannot comprehend....our differences are what bring beauty, interest, diversity, and compatibility....just make sure I have tried my hardest to do what is right each day...and if I lack or fall back, pick myself up the next day and know that I have a gift waiting for me the next day...that of beginning again. Give yourself the same love and acceptance...it sure is hard isn't it? I have so many wonderful examples around me...I look at them and want their incredible patience...their ease...their ever ready smile...their ability to handle what life throws at them....their incredible faith....their spirituality....the ability to be organized...their ability to love so freely...and I will continue to look up to them, but it's OK to be happy with myself at the same time. Remember we were each created to be unique...there is beauty and goodness in each of us.
So.....a hug from me to me to you :)
I made this card for me and for you today using many things that I am enchanted by....and then of course had to take a picture of it with a sweet gift my mom bought for my birthday ...it's a beautiful shabby blue pancake batter mixing bowl...I adore it, I adore it...she's such a great gift giver...I'm a lucky girl to have her as my mama.
Now a little something to tuck in your heart before I go:
"You may not have heard the Lord call you by name, but He knows each one of you and He knows your name. Elder Neal A. Maxwell said. 'I testify to you that God has known you individually . . . for a long, long time (see D&C 93:23). He has loved you for a long, long time. He not only knows the names of all the stars (see Psalm 147:4; Isaiah 40:26); He knows your names and all your heartaches and your joys!' ("Remember How Merciful the Lord Hath Been," Ensign, May 2004, 46)." , "He Knows You by Name," Ensign, May 2005, 109-10
Gotta go pull the chicken out of the oven.
Night friends.
Melis
What a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing your inspiring words!
Posted by: Amy Duff | July 07, 2009 at 07:34 PM
Wise, wise words. You are so worthy of heeding them. You are one that I admire.
Posted by: Jana | July 07, 2009 at 07:45 PM
Thanks so much for your very timely reminder & your beautiful inspiration.
Posted by: tina | July 07, 2009 at 07:52 PM
Your card is really beautiful, Melissa. And your words really touched me - thank you!
Posted by: Ali Manning | July 07, 2009 at 07:57 PM
you are so sweet..I do compare and judge my talents against others..maybe I will take your advise..to see my talent as it is..thank you..
Posted by: bettyann | July 07, 2009 at 09:18 PM
What a beautiful note and thought for today. Thank you for writing it. I know exactly what you are saying. I can be so accepting of others and yet so driven to be all the things I wish I were and am not. It's a good reminder to be patient and kind to yourself and accepting of your own strengths and weaknesses. A beautiful thought and I hope by writing it, you've found some peace in doing so. Thanks again!
Posted by: Roxanne | July 07, 2009 at 09:31 PM
So nice!
Be Blessed, Melissa!
Posted by: Daniëlla | July 07, 2009 at 09:54 PM
Beautiful and wise words on a difficult day! Hope you had a wonderful birthday!
Posted by: Debra | July 08, 2009 at 12:43 AM
Melissa, thank-you for sharing such wonderful thoughts with everyone and for including the words of a special man that I have always loved & admired...great words to remember.
Posted by: Julie Campbell | July 08, 2009 at 01:01 AM
Hi Melissa i always pop on your blog but dont always leave a comment but wanted you to know that your posts lighten my heart and brighten my days,such wise words, we all accept others for who and what they are but yes find it hard to accept ourselves for who we are always striving to do more, be better as i am reaching the big 40 next month i am starting to feel a change within myself to accept myself for what and who i am and for people to accept me for me and your words of wisdom from the heart are so touching,thank you!!!I find your blog inspiring and full of love and just want to say hi and thankyou.
hugs
tracy
xxxx
At the end of my day i always look forward to popping by and seeing and reading what you have been up too.I luv buttons too!!
xxx
Posted by: Tracy | July 08, 2009 at 01:45 AM
Beautiful! - The card and your post!
I admire and look up to you!
Posted by: Bonnie | July 08, 2009 at 03:00 AM
thank-you
Posted by: Katie Squires | July 08, 2009 at 04:22 AM
Gorgeous!! I just love your use of the little ribbon spool too, your creativity is endless! Happy Birthday to you!
Posted by: Danielle | July 08, 2009 at 04:42 AM
exactly why your blog is in the top 5 on my rssfeed....beauty inside and out. Thanks for sharing it with us. =)
GORGEOUS card, btw. Love the flower, especially. =)
Posted by: Deah =) | July 08, 2009 at 04:49 AM
What a gorgeous card and even more gorgeous words. I really needed to hear that today. Thanks, Melissa!
Posted by: Kalyn Kepner | July 08, 2009 at 05:15 AM
Wow....little did I know upon coming to your site today I would be hit so beautifully by God. I am always extremely hard on myself....I guess we all are at times. And we may even want to quit but you have given me something to ponder over. You are a blessing! Thank you for your words and the scriptures....they have truly hit my heart!
Posted by: Amy Smith | July 08, 2009 at 06:11 AM
I could have written those first 3 paragraphs Melissa. Although not as beautifully put :-). I am very much a perfectionist and that also seems to be my downfall. I am always running from finishing one thing to finishing another just so I get 'everything' done in the day. Fact is - those same things will be there tomorrow. Things will always keep. SO I have learned to slow down a little. Do as much as I can at a slower and more pleasureable pace. I am trying to learn to take a compliment, NOW THAT is a hard one. I am learning NOT to beat myself up because I just can't get the last 7lbs off despite the fact that I have lost over 83lbs in the first place. I am an all or nothing type of gal but am trying a little every day to be more relaxed about it all. Baby steps, every day.
Thank you for writing about your inner thoughts again. Sometimes it's hard for us to let our guard down and show that in fact, we are just normal people trying to survive the day like everybody else :-).
Love to you and yours
Ali xxx
Posted by: Ali | July 08, 2009 at 07:42 AM
Thank you so much for the sweet inspiration you've gifted to each and every one of your readers. You will always remain in a very special place in my heart. Your card is breath taking and THAT bowl! Well that bowl is just precious.
Posted by: Gabriela (Gabi With An Eye) | July 08, 2009 at 07:43 AM
You have an amazing way of putting thoughts on paper in a beautiful way. One of the reasons I love to visit your blog, not only for your projects, but your thoughts and writing style. What lovely words, and I think there are many of us that feel the same way. We are never good enough...but we are :0) ((Hugs))
Posted by: Catherine | July 08, 2009 at 08:06 AM
I love that you shared this part of yourself. It's funny how we view ourselves compared to how others view us. You are SUCH an amazing designer (whose work I stalk..). Keep up the beautiful work- you are an inspiration to all of us.
Posted by: Laura Solomon | July 08, 2009 at 08:15 AM
Your words are so powerful. Beautiful thoughts. I just shared them with someone who is in deep need of positive statements. Thank you so much for sharing with us today - a lovely gift from your beautiful, warm and loving heart.
Posted by: Marcia Truslow | July 08, 2009 at 08:19 AM
Thanks for your post!
It was the perfect thing to read.... the perfect words, just what "we perfectionists" (general we and I included!)do need to remember every day~! It's always really easy to be hard on ourselves, but it's good to stop and take a few steps back and see that life can't be also perfect and embrace those moments even if they are not always what we wish they could be! And tomorrow is always a new day... a new beginning!
Hugs from Canada!
:o)
xx
Posted by: Stéphanie Pouliot | July 08, 2009 at 08:26 AM
what a lovely heartfelt post - one that i KNOW i can understand. I also KNOW that God knows the hair on our heads. He has made us each to be individuals. We are precious in His sight. So -we need to remember to love ourselves more. If we can't love US we can't love others..and we just never know how we touch others lives..Your posts and cards are lovely.
Posted by: sarita | July 08, 2009 at 08:34 AM
Love your post today. I think I needed that for myself. I am always comparing and not stopping to realize I have my own and should be greatful for it and if I can do better I will be able to.
Thank you!!
Love your gift to yourself.
Posted by: Elizabeth S. | July 08, 2009 at 09:57 AM
((hugs)) back to you melissa
thank you for always sharing so much of your heart with us
your blog is always a beautiful and inspirational mental escape for me
i think today you shared what so many of us really feel inside
thank you for reminding us that we are worth more than we think...
Posted by: amy | July 08, 2009 at 10:59 AM