Affirmations

Affirmations are sayings, like "I deserve to be happy" or "I am beautiful". Things I don't really believe, but they are important to say until I do believe them. When we say it enough, for long enough we do tend to buy in. That is what an affirmation is. It is important to create space in our life for this too.

When you start believing, you start living accordingly. Just like when we say and believe negative things about ourselves, over time we believe those too.

That is when we say stop, reach up and say pluck you vulture. And pull out several vulture feathers as that is who is bopping us on the top of the head. (story adapted from Sid Simon's Vulture story) Get rid of the vulture food. All those negative comments that others have told us and that we tell ourselves.

This week my Little Frog card says, "I thank my body parts. Example: I am thankful for my hands and for all the ways they help me.

I thought about that for a short time. How thankful am I for my hands. Then I remembered those who have no hands, and how difficult life would be without hands. When I look down on my hands, they are different than when I was younger. They have more wrinkles; they have some protruding veins.

My nails are thick but break easily. Easier than when I was younger. Maybe I am just not as careful. I have a bit of a shake at times. At first, I blamed that on my broken arm repair, until I noticed a bit of a shake in my other arm.

I do believe I compensate for my repaired arm by favoring it and using my other arm more than necessary, and that is why it is sore sometimes. When I complain, my husband will laugh and remind me "That is what happens in your 70s!"

He then said, he has gone down to lifting 25-pound dumb bells, when he used to lift 45 pounders with no trouble. At one time I was lifting 25-pound dumb bells, and now it is 5 pounders. I didn't tell him about my lifting 25 pounders, when I was serious about lifting weights. That has been many years ago now.

I used to be jealous of the veins he had in his hands and arms, as mine were always so difficult to find and use for blood draws. Not anymore. They never have trouble finding a vein now, and I tell them if they ever do, they can use the veins popping in my hands!

Okay, so how is all of this being thankful for my hands. It is only day one of the card. I hope to get better by the end of the week. I am so grateful for my hands. I can write stories daily, I can cook if I need to, I can bathe myself, and clean when I have to.

I can read books, and give hugs, and even kill those pesky asian beetles if need be. My hands have changed diapers, pampers, and washed in a ringer washer and an automatic, hung laundry and put it in the dryer. My hands have put makeup on my face daily for over 45 years now, and helped others.

I have written on a chock board, flip chart, white board and now the newer version. I have played games, cards, and I can shuffle the cards like a pro. My hands come in handy in so many ways and I will thank Creator God for them every day this week. Right along with other body parts! Amen!