Thank you so much for those of you who left feedback on the last post. You really helped calm me down and gain some perspective. After some thought and consulting with the big guy in the sky, I tend to agree with what a lot of you mentioned. That the 30 Days is something special and should receive appropriate time and effort. For that reason, I will continue with two posts/day – one “30 Days” post and one “me” post. I’ll try to keep from rambling too much in the latter one. 😉 So look for this new approach TOMORROW!!! Thankfully, I’m back to being thrilled and not choking on nervousness.

Please remember what this movement is about. The 30 Days of Self-Love Reflections (or 30 DSLR…hehe I just noted its initials! perfect for bloggers!) serves the following purpose: to help us all learn to love ourselves more and to uplift one another in the process. To begin to realize our true beauty and value. To battle the inner dialogue that strives to bring us down. In short, it will help us to love ourselves like we should have never stopped doing. This may manifest itself in many forms – not only through recognizing your beauty, but also feeling stronger and more valued as a person.

Keep in mind this is NOT a religious or Christian only reflection. I may reflect on some of how my faith helped me in my responses to questions and discussions, but that will not be the focus of the topics.As much as I hope each of you know God’s love for you, I’m not here to preach or convert anyone with this process. Please don’t let that hold you back from participating.

I strongly encourage finding a few minutes each day to reflect on the given topic. Don’t just read through the post. Really think about how it applies to you and what you can take away from it. Use the message in your day. Also, commenting will go a long way in putting a strong personal statement to your reflections so please participate in this fashion. What a strong testament it will be to put your reflections (that aren’t too personal) out there. Also, I hope to use your comments in future 30 Days, depending on how this one goes.

I also appreciate all of you sharing with others to help promote something I truly believe can be a stepping stone to changing our lives one day at a time. Post, tweet, facebook, email, put up the button, whatever with it. Let’s help make a difference. And thank you in advance to those of you I know will do so or have already done so.

A bit more housecleaning to finish up this post:

• I sent out this week’s topics to those in the email list a few hours ago. If you did NOT receive an email and want to be on the 30 Days email list, please let me know in a comment below.
• The winner of the Thermos Hydration Bottle Giveaway is #10…

…Averie!! You are one lucky chick girl with all your giveaway winnings. Enjoy the bottle! I hope you (& Skylar) love it. 😀 Send me your delivery information so I can get it to the Thermos people.

• Please check out my guest post over at Erin’s blog – The Healthy Apron. It coincides with Operation Beautiful. Which reminds me, my Healthy Tipping Point story will appear on Caitlin’s blog tomorrow, along with a promotion of the 30 Days so look out for that. 🙂

I apologize for the longer, less entertaining post! It needed to be said though. Now I’m off to hang out with my sister! And make kale chips for the first time. Wish me luck!

What do you most hope to get out of the 30 Days? What are you most excited for?

I can hardly believe September comes tomorrow. Isn’t that what always happens, though? You await something with pure excitement, then the day oh so suddenly comes knocking on your door and you panic with nervousness. Yep. That’s me.

A few weeks ago I shared how I felt pulled to begin the 30 Days of Self-Love on the blog and asked for your support. The outpouring of support overwhelmed me and literally brought some tears to my eyes. To this day, as people continue to show their interest and let me know they are “in”, I get giddy with hope with what will come. Amidst all that, however, are some questions and insecurities.

I worry that it won’t be all I hope and that my posts and the shared reflections will fall much too short of what you all look for. I don’t want to let my fabulous readers and supporters down. I want us all to gain something from this and the fear of failure permeates my emotions.

I wonder how best to go about some of the technical posting details. I have recently gotten into a groove with my 2 shorter posts a day. They fit in my schedule well and make it easier to sit down to write with one concept in mind to share, instead of a day’s worth of stuff to sort through and try to keep to a readable post. I know I want the 30 days posts separate of anything else and posted in the morning by 8 am for people to have available to start their days.

So, I’m torn. Do I keep my normal posting and simply add the 30 Days posts in? Or do I exchange a normal post for the 30 Days post? I don’t want to overwhelm you with 3 posts a day. I certainly want the focus to be on the 30 Days and its participation, but would be lying if I said it wouldn’t bother me to do normal posts and those not get read. The 30 Days post will be very short and sweet, simply to spark some reflection and then allow for a comment to affirm part of your reflection, so I would hope they wouldn’t be burdensome when added with other posting, but it still worries me. I feel really silly typing that but I would be lying if I didn’t.

The last concern I will share (so as not to get too long winded) goes back to the beginning. Is it prideful of me to desire this to reach many different people? Is it wrong to have hopes and dreams for this movement/challenge? Was I crazy to even try this?

I can’t seem to help myself! I can’t even begin to describe how flustered I am to bother myself with such thought processes, but they are there. I want so badly for this to provide a positive experience for each person that it hurts. I will have to do something difficult. Even with all the faith I have, I still face difficulties with simply sitting back and trusting. That’s all I can do. Pray over each post and that God guides me to a message that can touch each individual. Pray for it to help us all love ourselves more and have a place of positivity and support together. And let Him do His thing while I’m just along for the ride. Bring. It. On. Please join us, will ya?

• How do you honestly feel about the posting? Would it bother you with an additional post or affect your reading of the blog and/or participation in the 30 Days?
• What do you have the hardest time with when approaching something new and extremely important to you?

I hope to see you all tomorrow with the first post!