‘I thought I looked good, but then I saw a picture of myself.’: Woman shares important reminder ‘you look good when your heart and soul feel good’

“Do you ever think you look good, but then you see a picture of yourself, and you’re like holy moly I ate too much of that guacamole? And sushi. And fries. That’s me.

I went to the beach yesterday with my kids, and to be honest, I wasn’t too tripped up about being in a bathing suit.

Living in the Florida heat and the fact I have three young kids and a pool means I’m in my bathing suit a lot.

And, up until now, I’ve felt pretty good about how I looked in a two-piece. But, tonight, for a short while, I felt embarrassed.

Embarrassed that after a year and a half of four to five days a week at the gym, I now look like this.

Ashamed at how I’ve ‘let myself go’ since the pandemic started, and semi-annoyed over not really noticing my body has negatively changed over the last three months.

But has it really changed all that much? Perhaps it has, or maybe it hasn’t, but I’ve changed as a whole person, that I know.

And, one notion that this new (better?) me is reminding myself of is I look good when my heart and soul feel good.

And, on top of that, if I’m focused on making those things happen, then whether or not I’ve got a pooch or some cellulite couldn’t matter less.

It’s taken 34 years, a seesawing weight, a global health pandemic, supportive people in my corner, and lots of positive affirming self-talk to realize sometimes when you feel you look good, but then you see a picture of yourself and think you don’t, all you have to do is see yourself through the eyes of the person who snapped the photo of you.

For the one who captured this image saw nothing other than a gorgeous woman, mothering her kids as she does best, while laudably rocking the life-giving body that helped her to carry and now relentlessly continues to help raise those three little babies, her grandbabies.

Am I the best shape of my life? No.

Do I look amazing? No.

But am I amazing? HELL FREAKIN’ YES.

And you are, too, so don’t you ever forget it.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Nicole Merritt of Jthreenme. You can follow her on Facebook, her website, or podcast. Submit your own story here. Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

Read more from Nicole here:

‘This crying thing is a daily occurrence. But I’m fine. No, really, I AM FINE.’: Mom urges others ‘remind any mom you know you’re there for her’

‘I need a friend,’ she said. That’s all she had to say.’: Woman urges others ‘if you need one, too, tell someone’

‘I feel like I’m pissing off a lot of people. I break my back, good mood, and spirit in pursuit of the best me. Don’t mock.’: Mom struggling with best decisions asks for understanding, ‘You have no idea’

‘I sat on my couch, white privileged, inside of my comfortable home, and realized the world hasn’t gone mad. The world IS mad.’: Woman explains her anxiety of being quiet, ‘I worry my silence offends you’

Provide strength and encouragement for other moms. SHARE this story on Facebook with your friends and family.