This I Believe

I have a nice body. It won’t look so nice to most people in a couple months, as I’m 10 weeks pregnant now, but at the moment, I’m content. However, I used to have a great body. Unfortunately I did not know or appreciate it until about a year ago, after having had my first child. I realized then that even after I lose the baby weight (and the extra 30 pounds that snuck in with the baby) it will never again be the same. After struggling with this loss for about 6 months, I came to terms with it realizing that it was a worthy sacrifice. So worthy that I am apparently willing to do it again.

What I learned from that whole 125 pounds up to 175 pounds and back down again experience was that if I fit in my pre-pregnancy clothes I am in fact not fat. I did not know this until I experienced life at 175 pounds. There are days that my mind tries to convince myself that I’m chubby, but I’ve gotten much better at pointing out the lie.

I also used to be a great flute player. I was a flute performance major in college for 3 years (advanced theory got the best of me and I changed majors). The whole time I figured I was just average, but practiced a lot so I snuck by and was able to impress those who didn’t really know better. Again, in retrospect I realize that I was in fact, quite good. Maybe not Julliard-worthy, but good enough to say I was good. 6 years later I am now average and am able to fool those who don’t know what they’re talking about. I play at church and do fine, but every now and then I decide to practice and realize I can’t even go through all my scales before my lips give out on me.

The list could go on and on of stuff that I used to be good at but didn’t realize, and only realize in retrospect now that I am no longer so good. Having my son opened my eyes to all of these past accomplishments. My husband is the same way, though I’m not sure he’s discovered it. He’s a ‘renaissance-man’ of sorts. He knows the most obscure things that I never expect he would know, and can do almost anything you ask of him. He can design web-pages, put together public relations plans, play guitar, is a great photographer, rock climber, writer, thinker, teachera.the list goes on. However on more than one occasion I’ve heard him criticize himself saying that he’s ok at a bunch of stuff (enough to fool a layperson), but not great at anything.

I believe everyone I know has greatness in them and about thema..that they don’t know is great. I’ve decided that I am going to give myself the benefit of the doubt. It doesn’t necessarily sound humble, but I am going to do my best to recognize my greatness before it’s all gone and I’m laying in a hospital bed telling my grandchildren to appreciate all the little moments of their life. I wish I could help everyone around me try to do the same. They can’t all have babies, but surely that ‘eureka’ moment can come another way. Though I’m not really sure how without major trauma. I Guess I’ll just keep telling my ‘eureka’ story and see if it helps.