We are Allowed to be in Awe of Ourselves

I have been inspired. I have been inspired by a couple of different women this week.

You must check out an incredible poem written by one of my favorite bloggers, Kristin Brumm of Wanderlust. The poem is titled, "Woman, A History." What a tribute to women everywhere.

Also, The Mommyologist is hosting Embrace Your Body Week this week.

This link-up is all about sharing (through pic or vlog) something that you love about your body! Go give the ladies at The Mommyologist some support!

My gawd, we are women, hear us ROAR, for crying out loud.

Do you notice a theme here?

Yes, we are allowed to be in awe of ourselves.

I am in awe of myself. It is true. Not only do I have Mad Skills Mothering, but I got my butt out of bed this morning before work and worked out to Jillian Michaels. Then, I dropped the maniac at daycare, stopped at Starbucks, went to work and prepared for presentations I give tomorrow, stayed late for Meet the Teacher night, had already left instructions for dinner for the husband, and will hopefully get to enjoy my family and a glass of wine before I fall, exhausted, into bed tonight.

AND I took the time to actually tell you all about this, and link up to Mommyologist, and pimp out Wanderlust.

What’s that you say? I’m supposed to have a pic or video to accompany my Mommyologist linky-participation?

Well, I just can’t do everything.

How about I paint you a visual?

This morning, as I was grunting and panting and thought I was going to DIE (no, I was not in labor, I was working out with Jillian Michaels, remember?), I was on my 25th freakin’ jackknife ab move (because Jillian wants to kill me), and I thought that my calves looked kind of cute circling through the air.

In the early morning my ankles hadn’t swelled yet, and you know how your calves always look considerably better when they are sticking straight in the air? (Ummm, unless you don’t spend much time in that position. And, neither do I, GEESH! Only when I’m doing my sporadic workouts, I swear.) Well, anyways, gravity must be a good thing when your body parts are upside down. There I was, in my sports bra and ankle socks, and tenny shoes. I felt so…sporty. And, accomplished. And TIRED. In a good way. I guess.

So, I really didn’t care that much that my husband’s view may have been a jiggling butt while I “pretended” to jump rope (yeah, Jillian is THAT fun) or a bit of cellulite peeking through the shorts.

What I could see were cute little calves pumping through the air.

What I could feel was a heart that was beating strong and sweat that soaked my face.

I felt like a hunk-a hunk-a burnin' love (and, believe me, so did my abs).

Shout it to the world. Shout it to YOURSELF. What do you embrace about your body?