Last week I shared the first part of the One Month to Live book series I picked up recently. The section discussed living passionately and included many great insights. You all seemed to enjoy it, so I decided to continue with part two this week. Let’s talk love!

God’s Love Helps Us Love Others: It takes a huge investment to give ourselves over to other people and care for them. Love carries a price – sacrificing your own desires at times, risking pain or disappointment, facing potential loss, and more. Loving is not easy. We need God’s help to go beyond ourselves and have the commitment to invest in our relationships fully.

We Need Others…But Challenges Will Happen: The most effective way to get through life is with a team of support from loved ones. However, just like sports teams or business teams, our relationships will have occasional conflicts and flare-ups. The most common scenarios include misunderstandings, a “me-first” attitude, and mistakes we all make that need forgiveness. Part of love is accepting others and not trying to change them. We all have qualities and faults that can present a problem or frustration to someone else. Focus on letting God change you instead of you trying to change other people.

Forgive: Without forgiveness we would drown in bitterness. Refusing to forgive others only hurts ourselves because we hold on to resentment and allow those hurting us to continue having the power. It is okay to be angry. It is even okay to be angry with God. However, we must find a way to express that anger in a healthful way so we can move on.

Action Required: Actions speak louder than words. Be sure your actions match up to the love you declare. Also, pay attention to actions that mean something to the other person. What does your spouse or friend really desire? Give what they need…not what you think they need.

Have an Attitude of Gratitude: What prevents us from noticing more of those everyday moments we have to feel thankful for? How often do we forget to thank God for the people in our lives..and to show them our appreciation? A simple thank you goes a long way.

Communicate: We have to communicate to have a relationship. Yet too often in today’s society effective communication gets lost in the hustle and bustle of life. We skimp on relationship time to be more “efficient” in life, but only end up hurting and longing for those connections God wants for us to have. How do we communicate? We listen intently. We share our time. We expose our hearts. We share our needs. We strive to understand. And God is like the satellite in that the more connected you are to Him, the clearer the signal to those with whom you communicate.

Gotta love love. Hope you enjoyed reading this week’s topic. See you in the morning!

• What do you think is the hardest for you to manage in relationships - misunderstandings, a “me-first” attitude, or mistakes needing forgiveness?
• What is the last loving action you showed someone? Keep it clean, people! 😉

Hello, friends! Please start your Sunday off with a positive expression of body image thanks to Errign from the blog Errign’s Adventures! Her confidence and self-awareness never ceases to amaze me. Enjoy her contribution to the new Self-Love Reflections: YOUR Stories series.

Hi Faith, Fitness, Fun readers! I’m Errign & I blog over Errign’s Adventures about the food, exercise, travel, and escapades that make up my daily life as a busy college student.  When Tina mentioned wanting some guest posters, I jumped at the chance because I love to read FFF and I find Tina super down-to-earth and inspirational.  On my blog, I have a series I call little letters where I write short notes to things I’m lovin’ or annoyances in my day.  They’re quick, to the point, and pretty fun to write, so I want to tie them into my post over here.  I hope you enjoy my little letters to myself, and maybe you’ll consider writing yourself a few little letters once and awhile.

Dear Mind,
Thanks for making me a great student, even though I don't always get enough sleep and I never study.  I love that you supply me with useless knowledge and the ability to never forget anything.  I promise to honor you with downtime watching movies and naps, as well as breaks to do yoga or read a book for pleasure.

Dear Hair,
Thanks for being pretty and for always looking okay, even if I don't shower for a few days.  I'm sorry that I don't know how to style you, but I appreciate that you don't tangle or get in my eyes or anything.  I promise honor you by never blow-drying, straightening, or dying you.

Dear Arms,
Thanks for powering me through pushups & for not collapsing during yoga and mountain biking.  I will honor you by strengthening you & stretching my tired muscles.  I promise not to pump you up too much and to never push too hard.

Dear Abs,
I know you're in there somewhere, so thanks for supporting me through everything.  I am going to honor you by not expecting you to come out of hiding and with lots of plank pose.

Dear Legs,
You're my favorite, but shhh! don't tell.  Thank you for propelling me up and down hills and over obstacles, whether I'm running, walking or mountain biking.  Thank you for being strong, muscular, and not too hairy.  I promise to keep you strong by maintaining my running and strength training routines, stretching, doing yoga and foam rolling, and I'll always remember that you need a break sometimes.

Dear Body,
I know you're not "perfect", but who says you have to be?  You honor ME by allowing me to do all of the fun activities I like to do, whether I have a cookie cutter shape, or not.  I think that the most important thing about you, is that you are perfect for me.  I will do my best to remember this always and try to never give you negative thoughts or unfair judgments.  I promise to dance like no one is watching, do yoga for me, eat brownies with my best friends, run until I am tired and drink wine until the sun comes up, once and awhile.  I will live my life in a way that shows a commitment to respect my body.

Thanks for reading & feel free to stop by my blog sometime. xo Errign

• What would you say in a letter to yourself?