So what do you LIKE about yourself?

[Strawberry_lovemuffin]

You can't possibly sound more wanky and self-adoring than my post. come on...

I don't know about that, did you read mine?

I totally agree with you... I've been reading this thread and until you came along I've been thinking there's something seriously wrong with me that I didn't find it hard to list things I liked about myself, both physically and otherwise, and furthermore, didn't find it the least embarrassing to do so.

Equally, I can shit on myself from a great height. As evidenced in the thread opposite to this one

But in general, I'm really really happy with who I am and I find it sad that many other amazing, beautiful, incredible women in this thread whom I know have many other qualities they've not listed here either truly don't recognise them (sad) or are scared to say (even sadder).

Maybe it's an age thing schmangle... I'm 32 too and at 26 my list would have been a lot shorter too.

1. My hair
2. My writing talent (this has since dropped off my list I'm lazy now)

.... even though, back then, I had a smoking figure and was at least 10kg lighter I would constantly hate on it, poking and prodding myself and scrutinising myself in the mirror, working myself into the ground for some ideal I believed was 'out there somewhere'.

Nowhere near completely Zen or anything with myself now, but I'm a hell of a lot less inclined to turn my hatred inwards because I know this girl inside me better now, she's a good girl with all her faults and tries hard; and I've really become fond of her. I think you kind of grow on yourself for lack of a better analogy.

er, I think I've said enough

 

[Samadhi]

One thing i'm proud to say, at almost 30, is that i feel that i've really 'come into my own'. I also like the fact that i'm ageing really well. I HATED my oily Italian skin when i was a teen, but i'm thanking the gods for it now. I also like that i feel far better about myself now, than i did at 21, when i was super thin and my bewbs were far more perky. Like you, Carla, i poked, prodded and was so critical of myself, now i just let it all go - It's only when you stop that you realise how tiring self-criticism is!

 

[schmangle]

To Strawberry:

oh yes, yes, yes. Actually, I decided a few years ago, that my main mission in this life was to find true meaningful happiness and contentment, and that would include learning to really love myself. Maybe to some people it sounds selfish, but what else can we do - can't really make someone else like themselves, can't solve the big issues, can't stop Bush being a silly ass... I really do think, if everybody worked on themselves, most, if not all, of the crap would stop.

Age is definitely a part of it, I'm 36 now, and the happiest i've ever been in my life and I really do like myself. If I met me, I'm pretty sure I'd like me. Lots of work still to do - mostly on acceptance of the physical side, and being less quick to judge, and to talk less... I talk even more than I write

I think the turning point for me was when i started to actively turn bad thoughts around - you have a bad thought (oh god, I'm such an idiot) and you say, no fuck off, that's not true, i'm actually pretty darn intelligent (i'm just being an idiot at this moment) And I also made a conscious decision to look for beauty and the good everywhere, turn to the positive and refuse the negative. You can look at a bare concrete wall, and then somewhere at the bottom will be a little plant growing, right out of all that concrete. So you concentrate on that, not on the grey concrete... And I guess that attitude spills over into how you perceive yourself...

And learning to walk away from stuff that makes you feel bad - that definitely comes with age and experience - the knowledge that you don't have to stay and feel shitty and absorb negative vibes - that you have the strength to just walk away. It took me 7 years to walk away from a relationship that was draining me - and it is absolutely the best thing i ever did

Hee hee - there's another like - I like the fact that I finally found the strength to walk away, and that I really know now that you can't provide anybody with true happiness, they have to find it in themselves.

I hope that somebody who is 19 and feeling really crap can read our waffle, and realize that life GETS BETTER AND BETTER. And enjoy the body you have, flaunt it, from 30, it takes work... And maybe we've inspired some people to like even more things about themselves, sure hope so...

And Strawberry, I have always absolutely LOVED reading your posts. You have an amazing heart.

Damn, should have come over to Aussie side ages ago :D

 

[Strawberry_lovemuffin]

You have an amazing heart.

That is the most beautiful compliment I can remember recieving in a long time. Seriously, I kind of teared up. Thankyou. It's funny how you used to think that whistles from guys on the street were complimentary... but now when someone gets your essence... either in person or just from words you put down on a keyboard, it is a thousand times more poignant.

I don't know you but have to say; where have you been? ? Your writing is amazing.

Katrisse I've always thought your face is utterly extraordinary. You are truly blessed with your beautiful skin and your gorgeous natural features, you should rightly be proud. Your beauty shines I think, right through from inside out

 

[Samadhi]

Carla: It's a trade-off, really... i still am struck with pimples at this age, due to the extra oil in my skin, but i can deal with them.

One thing i love to see are proud, youthful women in their late 20's onwards. It's so easy to get down about "youth slipping away" but if i find myself wandering down that path, i just tell myself that i'm better now than i was at 21.

 

[Strawberry_lovemuffin]

Me too... but you know I look at photos of myself back then and think how beautiful, how utterly beautiful (comparitively) I was and yet I felt so extremely ugly. It's ridiculous. I just can't reconcille the lovely girl I see in those photos with the person I can STILL so clearly remember I thought I was then at 16, 20... fat, ugly, worthless. Stupid. I actually do think I was better looking 10 years ago but it was useless then when I didn't realise it. I pushed away anyone who ever told me differently and pored over a harsh daily critique every day in the Self-Flaggelating News.

I don't think it's so much that I look better now but that I see with different eyes now.

 

[Rated E]

Oh, and my ass. I have a hot ass :D

 

[college_dropout]

I like the fact that I'm complex and at times, intense. It makes life much more interesting, albeit, much more difficult.

I also like it that I'm nice and genuine. Lol, which might sound corny but just about everyone I've met and hung out with since moving to the city has said so. And although nice guys do finish last I really believe in treating others how you want to be treated, something I pride myself on.

 

[AlphaCharlieID]

I don't like alot of my physical features, But personality wise, i like that about myself, I can get along with people easy, I make friends easily, I have a strange/simple sense of humor... Cant think of much more at the moment

I have really only just become comfortable with who i am... Im sure i may like more at a later date... And i shall update then

 

[college_dropout]

Katmeow
why the f*k is there such stigma about admitting what you genuinely like about yourself? or even admitting that you like yourself?

One thing I'll never understand is how so many people compete with how bad they've got it.

 

[m4dd0g]

One thing i love to see are proud, youthful women in their late 20's onwards. It's so easy to get down about "youth slipping away" but if i find myself wandering down that path, i just tell myself that i'm better now than i was at 21.

I know the 'getting older' trap all too well. Imagine spending the rest of your life thinking you were so much better 5 years ago.
The solution is quite simple: imagine how much better you will be in 5 years.

Always knowing I haven't hit my peek yet is possibly one of the most important things ive ever learnt about philosophies of life. Its not an intellectual idea (which usually have no value whatsoever) its faith

You're going to get older and randomly die due to some nonsensical reason eventually but if you choose to embrace it you'll love the now a hell of a lot more

 

[doofqueen]

PS. If you're female, stop reading f*ing Cosmopolitan and that crap - 10 minutes of reading that stuff can destroy your self image - evil marketing psychological geniuses created that. None of it is real.

I like you

^Doofqueen: i LOVE the fact that you mentioned recreational drug use and having a great kid. Most of my friends indulge in drugs occasionally, and they have wonderful, well-adjusted kids. Its the poor kids with the straight-as-all-hell parents i worry about.

yeah just have a look how i turned out for one Seriously though - thanks. I cop a lot of shit from a lot of places/people (mostly those that havn't met me OR my child) that being a recreational drug user will fuck my child up and that it's wrong of me to do so, that i'm not putting him first and yada yada but hey.... i do my drugs at parties when my kid is not with me. I come home happy. He see's that.... theres a lot more to it but that's the short version

thanks again

 

[Samadhi]

I know the 'getting older' trap all too well. Imagine spending the rest of your life thinking you were so much better 5 years ago.
The solution is quite simple: imagine how much better you will be in 5 years.

Always knowing I haven't hit my peek yet is possibly one of the most important things ive ever learnt about philosophies of life. Its not an intellectual idea (which usually have no value whatsoever) its faith

You're going to get older and randomly die due to some nonsensical reason eventually but if you choose to embrace it you'll love the now a hell of a lot more

AbsoFuckingLutely :D

 

[finchy_87]

I haven't cut my hair for a year and its grown pitifully. . it just seems to keep getting thicker and thicker instead

You should try cutting your hair at least every three months even if it is just a trim. Doing this promotes new growth and your hair should get longer quicker

 

[finchy_87]

I'm not going by what I like about myself more what people have told me, however, I do like my boobs and so does every guy that has ever seen them or touched them (but thats not saying much)
Apparently I have nice calves haha randomest compliment I have ever got apparently they are shapely, smooth etc
I do usually like my hair when it does what I want it to do but at the moment I can't seem to find a shampoo or conditioner that keep it in good condition!
Anyone got any good suggestions?

 

[drugfukkdrockstar]

I just want to say thank you to everyone for taking this thread seriously and opening up. Like as what was mentioned, it's not as easy to boast about yourself as it is to talk negative. I think it is really important to focus on the positives rather than the negatives and more of it needs to be done.

 

[lady grey]

^^ This was a good idea for a thread

I tell you what else i really think is awesome. When you learn to like what you don't like about yourself. It's something im trying to do at the moment. After meeting someone special who made me see all these things i don't like, are actually things i should. Im really learning to like the fact im a wierdo

Doofqueen, my mums awesome and she was a drug user when i was a kid. I think i turned out okay loL! People have NO right to judge your choices as a parent. You know what's best for your kiddy and that's all that matters.

 

[Samadhi]

^^ Absolutely Both my parents were recreational drug users, but it never EVER interferred with their parenting duties, (i didn't know about it until i was about 17) and if anything, it's allowed them both to relate to me better. I can also talk about my past drug usage with them without fear.

If only more parents were more open-minded and available to their kids... i'm not saying all parents should start chugging Es or anything, but just in general - if more parents weren't so closed off, they'd have far better relationships with their kids. I certainly hope that, when i have kids, i'm as approachable to them as my ma and pa were/are to me.

 

[doofqueen]

Thanks girls. It's appreciated

 

[fiat lux]

my freinds tell me that im ultra-reliable. oh, by the way, samahdi, we are having a family reunion where everyone including the oldies are getting on the X. should be fun... 8) oh, over 18`s only, of course...

not that it makes any differance, its still illegal, isnt it ?

as for things i like about myself... mmmm... ill get back to you.