I’m on a quest to be a better person. It’s not that I was ever a bad person per se but I’m making more of an effort to find and share the good in my heart, to be conscious of my thinking and being more protective of the energy I allow into my life. Your spirit is precious – you should be consciously aware of protecting it all times. It is a form of self-love.

As for love … I have this thing about hearts. I see them everywhere I go. I receive them as reminders from the universe to love myself. I see them  painted on buildings, drawn on city streets, scribbled in colorful chalk on the track that I exercise on … everywhere I look. I even have two hearts tattooed on my body (ankle and booty). I put them on my body permanently because they serve as testaments to loving me. I look at myself naked often and I say I love you so much, because it took a really long time, but I do.

I’m still pretty tough on myself and it took years of self scrutiny to come to terms with the greatness of me, particularly my body. I used to scrutinize every inch of my body. Now I look at pictures and I see how beautiful it was and I look at it now and see how beautiful it still is. It is beautiful to me and that is what matters the most. I love the softness of my skin. I love the color of my skin, the curve of my hips, the beauty of my entire body – I am amazed by every inch of me now. I love what my body has accomplished and the gifts it gives me each day. I think when a woman loves her body, her clothes fit better (because she knows what works on her body), she carries herself with more confidence and she becomes a more free and much better lover (bonus!).

At some point I stopped needing others to admire this body, instead I honor it with the food I ingest (yes, I eat Haagen Daz Coffee Chip) and I thank it when it allows me to ride my bike for miles, to row on my row machine and to move swiftly around the Weehawken track again and again. The fact that it allows me to walk, to stretch, to dance, to do yoga, to do floor exercises, to have birthed an eight pound, 21 inch baby boy and each day to feel strong and able. Thank you beautiful body. I haven’t always been kind to you. I scolded you and put you down. I ignored you and spoke unkind words to you. I wrap my arms around you every day now. I’m so sorry. I love you so much. You have been so good to me. Thank you. Please take a minute each day and start thanking your body for the wonder that it is.