When was the last time you gave to yourself?
During this season of giving, we asked author, women’s advocate and the world’s leading plus size model, Emme, to share her thoughts. Read Emme’s message below, plus check out our “links we love” for more tips and inspiration. What does giving mean to you? Sign up and share your story!
Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.
-Mother Teresa
To love is the ultimate act of giving. Especially to love freely—without expectation, with the entirety of one’s soul. To give is to give one’s love to another.
But what if we lack love for ourselves? How can we give what we don’t have? As women, we were often taught to give love away, to give wholeheartedly without considering our own needs. We were to give, give and give to our children, friends and loved ones.
It’s no wonder that many of us are dissatisfied with our lives and the way we look, which surprisingly (or not) has nothing to do with our appearance. By not learning to give to ourselves first, we continue feeling disconnected in our lives and uncomfortable in the skin we’re in. But we can change all that!
What would happen if we did fill our cup first—and put our needs and desires (at least sometimes) before others? What if we said “yes” to slowing life down and “no” to keeping up with the Joneses? What if we decided to cook more wholesome sit-down family dinners, plant a garden, learn to dance (and not lead), read more and watch less mindless TV?
What if we enforced boundaries in our relationships to command respect, honor and love for who we are, not what others want us to be? What if we got a massage, created sacred silence in our daily routine, agreed to a consistent fitness routine? If we did all of these things, we’d begin to fill “our vessel,” and begin living and loving in a way we’ve never experienced before. Seems uncomfortable? Too unfamiliar? I understand, but let’s be brave, try it all on for size and see where it takes us.
What would happen if we, as mothers, grandmothers, aunts, daughters and nieces (young and old) empowered ourselves and deepened our connection to our mind+body+spiritual selves? If we allowed these profound shifts in our lives, miracles are bound to happen, don’t you think? It certainly would, if anything, help to heal the world—one person, home, community, town, state, country at a time.
Talk about the power of a woman coming to fruition!
Now is the time to reevaluate how you give your time, love and attention. This holiday, let your ultimate gift—the gift of love—begin with someone you may not have considered until now…YOU! When you do, you’ll have more than enough love to give to others, and you’ll enjoy a renewed sense of abundance.
Emme is the founder of EmmeNation.com, the online community connecting women’s body+mind+spirit.
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