Since its Saturday, and I know we’re all busy and living our lives on the weekends, I will make this post as short and sweet as possible. Just enough to get the message across and help us go out and do just what we should be doing – living. And enjoy ourselves and those who love us! 🙂

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I have already shared how important it is to recognize others’ love for us. You might remember that one. It was probably my personal favorite of this series because I felt it so deeply. Accepting love from others can threaten the walls we build around ourselves. We fear breaking down all our defenses because it may reveal our weakness, hurt, and shame. We cannot keep those defenses though. Not only do they make it hard to accept love from others, but they also make it hard to give love to others.

When I lived my life secluded in the hard shell of depression, binging, and negativity, not only could I not see others reach out to me but I didn’t want to reach out to them. I hated my loneliness  but I put on a happy face as much as possible to appease others so they wouldn’t come too close. I felt I had no love to give.

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My faith and allowing myself to attempt new relationships played a large part in opening my eyes to the importance of loving others. It started with loving Peter and not wanting to hurt him. It grew with not wanting to pretend in front of others. It grew even more when I got more involved in the church and built up amazing relationships there. Not only did I learn people could care about me, but also I cared about them. Doing things to uplift them helped me feel good too. Then it became this never-ending cycle that continued to build upon itself.

Now, I love hard. I care so greatly for the obvious contenders – my husband and my children (even the unborn one bumping around inside of me and causing my back grief), my parents and siblings, my close friends. I also truly love people I’ve never even met. You all. I feel blessed to have met some of you and hope to get the chance to meet each one of you, but even if our paths never physically cross I honestly don’t know what I would do without you and wish the best for each of you. I hope you know that.

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I even extend my love to strangers. I believe in random acts of kindness, the power of a smile, and how a polite conversation with someone for even just one minute can make a difference. And I always feel better about the world and myself after such actions. The only way to feel love deep down is to give it and receive it. It’s what we were made to do. If we deny that part of ourselves something will always feel missing, making it that much harder to fully love ourselves.

How are you going to show love to someone this weekend? We have numerous people in our lives to love…be open to all! Have a fabulous Saturday!

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• Making A Change
• Ulterior Harmony

Sometimes I surprise myself with my meals. For a long time, I had convinced myself that every meal must include around 30g of protein to be complete. I downed lots of lean meat and protein shakes and not too many beans (extra carbs – the horror!), tofu (extra fat – the horror), etc. My how times have changed.

Over the past few months I realized that I don’t really love meat, which I should have for as much as I used to consume. I still enjoy meat, but don’t need it. In fact, over this last week most of our meals have been meatless and I haven’t missed it a bit!

Veggie Enchiladas

Whole Wheat Pasta w/ Veggies + Sauce

Tofu, Veggie, Brown Rice Stir Fry

The meatiest we got was a quick, easy dinner of a turkey panini. Tonight, the veg continues with Friday night pizza night. I don’t ever forsee myself becoming vegetarian and I don’t label myself as a flexitarian either. I am just me. I eat foods I enjoy. I eat a variety because it suits me and my family. Just as I can’t stand fish but love raw sushi and fish tacos, there’s no way to describe my eating habits. I have learned that overanalyzing, labeling, and trying to fit my ways to others’ does only harm. I said before I have lots of room for progress and much more to learn. One thing I don’t need to learn any more? Be true to myself.

Happy Friday! Now have some pizza with me…or some sushi for me. 😀 Seriously, that will be one of the first things I devour post-birth!

• What food would you have trouble giving up for 9 months?
• What are some of your special eating preferences? I would say my biggest one is being picky about fish but loving sushi. And I’m a HUGE texture eater.