love yourself, be who you are
How right my friend Charlotte was when she said, "I feel a blog post coming on", the other morning as we walked by the water with the low tide and soft breeze. I was so excited, I saw a Roseatte Spoonbill, an unusual and spectacular sight at that particular spot. I inhabited an older version of myself...older Floridian woman, wrinkly and tan with a visor on shouting out the names of various birds to no one in particular...Tufted Tit Mouse! Cardinal! Scrub Jay! (Thanks Mom for inspiring me to learn my bird names). I like the idea of this older, wiser, even kookier me.
It seems to me that within us all lives our younger selves and older selves simultaneously. The 7-year-old me lives side by side with the 80-year-old me.
As the gorgeous pink bird with the vibrant red stripe and spoon for a beak ate her breakfast oblivious to the people admiring her unusual beauty, the white Herons and Seagulls next to her, did the same. They seemingly paid no attention to their neighbors' more stunning outfit. I doubt they were thinking, "You guys, I totally like her colors better than mine." They just ate together enjoying their fish. No big deal.
And it was no coincidence that the day before my fairy hummingbird tree nymph of a daughter sat next to me on the floor coloring. When I glanced over to see what she was writing, her poster board revealed words that made my heart soar, Love yourself, Be Who You are.
Love yourself, whether your self is your little self, your teenage self or your elder. Be who you are...sage advice from my little girl...because who you are is so brilliant no matter the color of your feathers.