The 10 Year Challenge

People have been posting this 10 year challenge all over social media. I rarely have pics of me while the kids were growing up because I was always behind the camera and quite frankly, I was ashamed of how I looked. I was tired, overweight, overwhelmed, stressed, and always on a deadline. When I looked at pics of me, I immediately pointed out every flaw.

10 years ago the girl on the left, was raising 2 amazing kids and supporting their dreams, athletic adventures, and academic pursuits. She had endured numerous miscarriages. She sold her first home and bought her dream home with her husband. Climbed the corporate ladder while learning a new career. She became a photographer, an entrepreneur, learned to be a web designer, graphic designer, business owner, and shed her introvert shell. She hosted and mothered dozens of exchange students, and rescued 4 pugs.

The girl on the right is a result of learning to love, honor, and appreciate the strength, wisdom, hard work, impact and accomplishments of the girl on the left.

I'm sharing this with you for a myriad of reasons, but mainly because I finally learned to give myself grace and look at myself with a more gentle and kind eye. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY LOVE the girl on the left for giving me all of those intangible, indelible gifts. I'm so thankful that she didn't give up.