You guys are, at least! I am exhausted right now, and outside of complaining of the needy kitty that shoved his way into my lap just a minute ago… literally shoved – he will push and headbutt until I make room for him, or try to climb down my front from the back. It’s nice to be loved, I guess!

Still, in spite of feeling quite so tired, I’m feeling good, too. I was hauling the laundry down (since I do my chore catch-up on a Monday), and I spotted my reflection in a mirror. Sure, I’m still in jammy-esque clothing, and my hair is in a sloppy braid from last night, but I couldn’t help but smile. I told myself I looked good (to which my reflection didn’t disagree), and continued with the chore in progress. It’s a relief to have gotten used to, and return to loving, the new post-baby me. So what if the scale continues to nag that I’m supposedly six pounds overweight? And as cheesy as it is, little affirmations are kind of nice as we can come to terms with them. I could never leave encouraging post-it notes around (the thought makes me start clawing at my wrists and trying to climb walls – it’s too group therapy-sounding to me), but it pleases me that I can, at least, look at myself.

So y’know… go look at yourselves in the mirror for a minute and say something nice to yourself. As one of my best friends points out often for our mutual edification – we are our own worst critics. Take a few moments (or a lifetime even!) to retire from that position, and see what good comes of it. Not that I’m encouraging everyone to write a blank cheque to be blameless and the like, ’cause we should all respect ourselves enough to retain a degree of useful criticism, but save it for  your actions, not your love handles. 😉

And even if it is an evil awful Monday, may you all make the best of it.

<3