Tiffany of Dancing Branflake gave me one of the best pieces of advice after this post last week: she suggested I start listing five things I love about myself every day. At first, I didn’t know if I’d succeed at this task for multiple days in a row, but after a few days, I’m already feeling more confident.
Here are my five:
1. I love the way my freckles multiply after a day in the sunshine.
2. I love that I have the same legs my grandmother had, thick muscular calves and all. (Yup, this lovely lady is my grandmother.)
3. I love that I take the time to do little things for other people: bake them treats, send them cards or emails, pick up a jar of jam or walnuts for them at the market.
4. I love that I have grey eyes. I once thought they were blue and panicked a bit the first time I was told that they were, in fact, grey. It makes me feel a bit old fashioned.
5. I love that I find calculus thrilling. Even if I’m not a mathematician or a physicist, as I had once planned to be, there’s still nothing like a good math problem.
What five things do you love about yourself today? (Go ahead — show off a bit.)
{freckles image here (original source not found), freckles poster by etsy seller finny and zook, photo of my grandmother by some family member of mine, letters photography by perfectbound, grey eyes image here (original source not found), math image by Vanessa Paxton}
this images are wonderful, especially the gray eyes pic! wow
oh this is twirl worthy…i may have to wake one of the sleeping beasts up and make them spin around the dining room table with me….
grandma’s legs actually elicited an out loud swoon….
loveliest wednesday to you miss beauty!
I love the one about freckles, because the wonderful things cover my face! Haha, I like this idea. Definitely keep it up!
Such a good exercise for anyone to do! Love what you wrote. Your Grandma was one foxy lady. Oh, and I could use you when the kids need help w/ their math homework! xo
great idea!
Tiffany is brilliant and I LOVE that you’ve taken the time to share your five fave things about yourself today. Your freckles are absolutely adorable (I’ve always been jealous of freckled girls) and I saw your ADORABLE green striped dress on Fill Your Well. You’re so cute Brandi!
1) I like smiling.
2) I like my nails.
3) I like how excited and giddy I get over the smallest things.
4) I like how quickly I can type.
5) I like that I am challenging myself to pursue more creative endeavors after years of being unsure that I was ever creative at all. Thanks blog world and great blog friends like yourself for nurturing this side of me. I’m so grateful!
Lovely photos, Brandi! And so great to get to know you a bit better. Great advice from Tiffany! Lately I’ve been looking in the mirror (or if I forget, right before bed I just say it in my head) and saying 5 things that I am to either trick myself into thinking it or just finally realize that it’s true! I memorized it after the first few chants and it goes like this (in no particular order): I’m pretty, I’m skinny, I’m brave, I’m smart, I’m kind. Then I added on: I’m loved, I’m happy, I will be successful. I’m not 100% sure yet, but I think its magic is starting to work! Those first two may sound vain and pathetic, but like you’ve mentioned before… we all want to be pretty/skinny/fit/etc. The list may just get bigger and bigger and, hopefully, some will drop off because they’ll be that obvious.
I love that photo of your grandmother! What a beautiful lady!
Wow five things. I’ll give it a go…
1. I love my messy hair // 2. When I was young I always wanted light eyes – but now I love the fact that my eyes are a very very dark brown. // 3. I love how I can get lost in a world of books and enjoy every minute of it // 4. I love how my loved ones can always count on me to be there for them // 5. I love that I am a dreamer
I love freckles! I don’t have as many as you, but I’ll take what I can get. here is my list (which was really hard to put together by the way)
1. I have really great hair. and when it’s humid out, it gets even better!
2. I’m strong (mentally and physically)
3. I can design and sew pretty much anything
4. I love that I can ice skate. Ice skating helped shape the person I am today
5. I have a passion for traveling
Oh this is so sweet
Well, off the top of my head, considering I just woke up, here’s what I love about myself today…
1. I love that I’m ever-curious.
2. I love that I really think about other people and why they are the way they are. And I also turn that questioning inward and wonder why I feel the way I feel. It can be so helpful in certain situations…
3. I love that I have the body that I have. It’s taken me a long time to appreciate it, but now, I really do.
4. I love that I go on adventures and explore the vast world that lies before me.
5. I love that I am creative, that I’m always thinking about projects to be done, and always looking for fun new ways to enjoy life!
Lovely! Here are my 5!
1. I too love my freckles. They are always number 1 on my lists.
2. The color of my hair… my hair may be thick and frizzy sometimes but the color is perfect if you ask me. Its brown, but I have found strands of red, black, blonde and sadly grey as well… it makes for quite a pretty color.
3. My ability to create, whether it be cooking, sewing, crafting or whatnot. If only had more time to do it.
4. I’m Irish. I don’t think much else needs to be said about that.
5. I love that deep down I’m a little tomboy with a big sense of adventure. I love that I married a man who is bringing that side of me out again. I use to wander around in the woods/mountain near my house, build tree forts and learn about trees. Moving south to a suburb killed that spirit and I thank my husband and Western Pennsylvania for giving me that outlet yet again.
Thanks Brandi! Such good advice.
*kate
What a great list, gray eyes – how lovely! And that pic of your g-ma is awesome, I love old pics like that!
Hmmmm… here’s my list:
1. That I am open to try anything new – I am especially adventurous with food, and will taste weird things that most people wouldn’t.
2. I like my creative side.
3. I am thankful that I am organized and detail-oriented.
4. I love to find ways to connect people, I don’t like having separate groups of friends – I am always looking for ways to connect them all up, so I am always planning get togethers and parties where they can all meet. And I really appreciate that about myself.
5. I like that I am a good cook
your grandma is lovely! isaiah and i always try to have our 2 nice things ritual every night…1 nice physical thing you like about yourself, 1 nice “lizzie”-ism or “isaiah”-ism about the way you are…then we do the same for each other…very healing and reassuring to hear what you think about yourself out loud and then what someone you care about thinks about you too…you know?
what a happy post! i have a few freckles across my nose that i treasure as well
my list is as follows
i love:
1. my super low-maintenance hair that allows me to roll out of bed and out the door
2. that people often tell me I have a very loud and distinctive laugh!
3. that our house has become a hangout hub for friends, resulting in many nights of good food and fun
4. that i’m not a salad & water type of girl – give me a burger any day!
5. my general silliness and love of bad puns
This is such a brilliant idea! I keep my happiness journal, but perhaps I might need to take a page from your book and start doing this as well! I’m not sure I could list 5 things every day, so I might have to start off slowly with 1 a day and gradually progress. Just think how uplifting it would be to revisit your list at a time when you’re feeling down!
YAY!!!!!! I am so glad this helped you! As a friend that lives so far away, I wanted nothing more than you to feel better. Here is my list:
I love my hands. Definitely piano playing hands.
I love my eyes. They are big and lined with a good amount of lashes.
I love that I can express myself through words and movement.
I love that my sense of smell is keener than almost anyone else I know.
I love my collar bone. I just do!
Oh this is great! I might take your lead and do a post on the exact same thing. You’re a genius. xo
woohoo! i love this. and that’s such a fantastic photo of your grandmother!
here are my five:
- i love my wild mane of hair – it’s big {really big!}, and thick and curly.
- i love my eyes that change color with my surroundings – sometimes green, sometimes blue, sometimes grey.
- i love my synesthesia which allows me to see the world in totally different and magical ways.
- i love that i’m so short!
- i love that i can create music, with my voice, my hands, and my whole life!
Love this and love all the things you picked. My fav are the freckles (I have them too) and the taking the time to do little things for others… that is what makes the world a better place.
Oh boy I don’t know if I can come up with 5 but here goes.
-Today I love my pregnant belly. Although it is slowing me down and achy…I only one more week of my life to be pregnant and it is kinda cute.
-I love I love to bake “treats” for people even if I like them better than anyone else.
-I love that I am a somewhat old fashioned but love modern living too
-I love that a bit silly – talking in english accents and believing in fairies.
xoxo
1. i love that before + afters still take my breathe away. you’d think that by now i’d have the mentality, “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all”.
2. i love my new bangs
3. i love that i’ve worn stripes everyday for the past week
4. i love when i write something clever and it makes me laugh out loud
5. i love finding wedding vendors and inspiration for all my engaged friends.
Amazing post Brandi – and how gorgeous is your grandmother.
My five today:
* I love that i care about everybody – all the time – everywhere, anywhere
* I love that my eyes are grey/blue or Blue/grey / with lucky lashes (no need to apply much
* I love that I am finally doing something that I love – and it works
* I love the smell of sunshine on my skin
* I love that I have travelled everywhere – and still do
I have grey-blue eyes which kinda disappointed me at first cause some bright blue ones seemed to be more appealing but now I just think of them as unique. And I love me a good calculus problem!
Five things…oh boy, harder than it seems!…
…I love that I’m obsessed with french fries and cheese and still stay fit.
…I love that I can make people laugh.
…I love that I still send cards to my friends on their birthdays.
…I love the colour of my hair.
…I love that I’m not afraid to be myself.
Totally bookmarking this post for when I need a little inspiration!
I love your list! Okay, five things…
I love that I can be perfectly content by myself
I love being such a reader
I love having the ability to mix the perfect cocktail for different people
I love that I have so much fun driving on the freeway and singing my heart out
I love that I trust I will get myself to where I want to go and what I want to be.
Self love is imperative, good job, go Tiffany. Your grandmother was beautiful! xo
I love this Brandi! What a wonderful list you’ve made!
Do you mind if I post my own list tomorrow? I’ll give credit to you, and to Tiffany too, of course…
just fell in love with you more. grey eyes and freckles?! how awesome are you ?
gray eyes?? very cool
thanks for reminding me to love how awesome i am .
I love your list, and your grandma is a foxy fox!! So gorgeous!
Let’s see today I love:
1. My new blunt bangs
2. That I finally got the guts to get the blunt bangs, it doesn’t seem like it should be a big deal but for some reason it really was to me
3. I love my crazy good memory
4. I love my hands because they are small like my dad’s but look exactly like my mom’s
5. I love my ability to make up stupid little songs on the fly because they crack my husband up every time, and there is no better feeling than making someone laugh
You know, I think we should all do this every day!! That was a total mood boost =)
your eyes are GREY!?!?! i LOVE that, that’s my fave color!! how unique brandi! and your grandmother is a classic beauty!
What I love about myself:
1) How with my perm, I can just jump out of the shower and not do anything with my hair.
2) The way my face brightens up with a my mauve lipstick.
3) I love how I can type really fast.
4) I love my blog and how it represents me.
5) I love it when I can make others laugh!
what a lovely list of five. freckles, gray eyes and grandmas legs sounds pretty stunning to me. if I’m to list my special ones for today:
1. love my height. 2. my big hazel eyes. 3. my sweet giving heart. 4. love that I can make my lil girl giggle. 5. being so tanned right now
1. I love that I speak Italian with a Spanish accent.
2. I love that I find great bargains when I shop.
3. I love that I got my whole family hooked on Harry Potter.
4. I love that my students specifically ask for me when they sign up for classes.
5. I love that I give thoughtful gifts.
Thanks for the inspiring post. Your blog does a body good.
I love freckles
One of my besties has freckles all over her face and eyelids — and they look so elegant!
xoxo
Olivia
Brandi, this is such a fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing this post, and inspiring your readers to jumpstart their feelings of confidence. I’m a smidge nervous to do this, but here goes:
1. I love my ambition and drive, and that it has led me on a path that will involve having a doctorate (finally!) next spring.
2. I love my big ol’ teeth-showing smile, and how liberally I allow for it (as well as my wonderfully overzealous laughs) to surface.
3. I finally do love my body, which is a big deal for me, because it’s been a long road of self-criticism and doubt before I’ve reached this point of contentment.
4. I love my enthusiasm — for the success of my friends and family, for taking on new adventures, and for life’s simple things, etc.
5. I love that I’m known throughout my social circles for my stellar cupcakes, my pretty dress collection, and my quiet but sassy sense of humor.
That was fun!
ps.
6. i make the best peanut butter + honey sandwiches
I love that you did this. Off the top of my head:
I love my bright green eyes with long dark lashes
I love how much I love kids
I love how big my heart is
I love that I am awed by the smallest/strangest/simplest things
I love that I pee my pants when I laugh too hard.
I love the comment about freckles because I have them too! I hated them for years, until my husband told me that he loved them….
My freckles appeared about two years ago, and I loved them at once! Lovely photos, lovely post.
Spring hugs to you!
what a lovely way to boost one’s day!
1. i love my blue eyes. they are exactly like my father’s.
2. making people happy by sending a card, baking a treat, giving them a call.
3. my crumb thinks i am really funny
4. my lips
5. my romantic, believe-in-fairy tales, life is a bowl of delicious juicy cherries outlook on most everything.
What a great post. x
gosh i love how candid and genuine you are. and… i will be reposting that freckles poster, how sweet!
A girl without freckles is like… ∴ redhooded.net // 6 May 2011 at 7:13 pm
[...] reading Brandi’s post encouraging readers to think of five things you love about yourself each day (her posts are genuine [...]
how adorable is your little grandma?! what an amazing photo!