Why can't you love me?

Christa over at the blog  Young and Restless has written a post about why we as women love to hate ourselves that you have to read. I kind of touched on this subject before in my post Burlesque, and it's a subject that is near and dear to my heart, because like most women-I am my own worst critic.
Christa has organized a link-up calling for everyone to share the things that they LOVE about themselves. I want to support her and join in on this. Sitting down and coming up with a few things that I love about me is so hard, and it makes me wonder-WHY? Why is it so hard for us as women to love and appreciate the same things in ourselves that we cherish and recognize in our friends, sisters, and mothers? As I've gotten older, I realize that it's more about habits. You have to consciously try to make it a habit to build yourself up rather than tear yourself down. We're getting older ladies-it's a fact of life. The only thing you can do is take a deep breath, look in the mirror, and focus on the good that you've got going on, instead of the same-old same-old things you don't like and can't change.
So, here goes-

I love my ability to forgive those who wrong me. God has blessed me with the ability to meet hurt and pain with love and understanding. I often can't really explain or understand how I can let some stuff go, I just know in my heart that I have, and am thankful for it.

I love my legs. They're long (since I'm tall) and I like that, but I also love how strong they feel. When I help my husband work on the house and lift something heavy using the strength in my largest muscles (thighs, baby!) sometimes I think...'I am a beast', and I feel pride.

I love my perseverance. Sometimes I need to be pushed-but I'm a survivor and I know it.

I love my lips. They're full and pretty, and I'm glad they're mine.

I love that I am chill. I am not really outgoing, but I like people and I am easy to get along with. I enjoy peace. I like good music. I'm just...chill.

I love that I have sacrificed for my child. I love that I nursed him for a year even though it was TOUGH being solely responsible for his nutrition and never being able to be away from him for more than 4 or 5 hours (and much less than that at the beginning).

It's not a long list right now, but it's a start. Share your own self-love below!!