You are whole, complete, and perfect just the way you are- right now. You do not need to do ANYTHING to make yourself "better" than you are in this moment. You are ENOUGH- right now. Lost 100 pounds? You are enough. Have 200 to lose? You are enough. Ate a whole bag of Oreos? You are enough. Snapped at your kids because they were making you late? You are enough.

You are not inherently flawed. You do not have something wrong with you that needs fixing. You are a joy and a delight. The light in you and the love that comes from you to those in your circle of influence both shine brightly every day. Every day you have a positive impact on someone else- even though you probably do not know it. Every day you are the reason someone else smiles (even if it is only because they are thinking of you and have not seen you in some time). Every day this world is a better place because YOU are in it.

I see so many posts and comments where folks are judging their worth for today based on eating/exercising. It is so easy in this journey of health and wellness and losing weight to forget that much of life is NOT about calories, scales, fat/carb/protein grams, or clothing sizes. It is not about how "good" or "bad" you have been in terms of eating/exercising.

I tend to be very goal oriented and I forget that I am a human BEING- not a human DOING. I am not "measured" based on some tally sheet of "successes" and "failures". I forget that I am (as we all are) connected to God/the Divine/Source (whatever you want to call it) at all times. And that connection has NOTHING to do with my weight.

I used to think that if I was not hard on myself I would "slack off" and not reach my goals. I am learning (slowly) that the exact opposite is true. it is only through kindness to and love of myself that I get anywhere. I do not have a prayer of losing weight and keeping it off if I am not 100% committed to loving myself. So here is what I am doing... every day at least 3 or 4 times per day I look into the mirror and I tell myself "I love you".(This is called "mirror work" and it is suggested by Louise Hay- one of the teachers I follow.) I know-- it sounds totally NUTS, right? But I am doing it. Early on, my inner critic was very quick to point out all that she thought was wrong with me. I must have had a dozen or more critical thoughts in the 20 or 30 seconds I spent in front of the mirror. But I kept doing it. I am on day 3 now and you know what? She is getting quieter....and I am getting bolder!

So, to all my VSG pals (and to me!)-- LOVE YOU--love who you are! I love you and you are deserving of every good thing Life can possibly offer-- just the way you are RIGHT NOW. Just because you are. Your existence is proof enough of your inestimable value without losing another ounce. Without dropping another size. Without ANY of it. Just you. Right now. LOVE!!!