Okay Stacy4: This one is for you. It took me a couple of days to think about it. LOL
As far as any compliments lately, everyone is telling me how great I look, but with the exception of my immediate family and Chiropractor, no one has actually said that they have noticed that I have lost weight as of yet. But I am still working hard on my weight loss.
Years ago there was a time when I was applying for a job in an upscale salon and while I was waiting to be called in for an interview, this man who worked there kept staring at me. I kept smiling and then turning away and didn't know why he was staring at me. I thought to myself that he must be thinking, boy she is fat. Like does she really think that we would hire her to work here? After I was hired, he and I became like the bestest of friends and I reminded him of the time I was waiting to be called in for my interview and asked him what he was thinking when he was staring at me and he said that he was thinking how nice I looked. Very professional and color coordinated and he had hoped that I would be hired for the job because he could tell by my body language alone that I was a very pleasant person and he thought that he would enjoy working with someone like me. Boy was I was shocked. I would have never in my wildest dreams ever thought, that, that was what he was thinking. But he was right, we enjoyed working together.
Another time while working as a Hair Stylist, one of the Men who was a regular customer of mine, called me up on the phone and asked me to have lunch with him some time. I was shocked! As tactful as I could be, I very nicely told him, no thank you, I am married and I do not think that my Husband would appreciate me having lunch with you. (whether it was a line or not, I do not know) But the next time he came in for his hair cut and asked for me, it was a little uncomfortable for both of us. And he said he was sorry, he didn't mean anything by asking me out to lunch, he just enjoyed my pleasant personality and my company.
When I was shocked and told my Husband about those experiences, he said that he wasn't surprised. That he sees me as a beautiful person inside and out and he would be shocked if other people didn't see me any other way but beautiful.
As for the "Out of the mouth of Babes" expression goes. My daughter who was apx 14 years old at the time, said something to me that I will never forget. I do not remember what we were talking about at the time, but it had to do with me trying to explain to her how self conscience I felt about my weight and self image. And she said to me: "Mom, when someone looks out into the ocean and sees this large beautiful whale jumping high out of the water, people do not say, look at that big fat fish jumping up into the air. Boy that is a really fat fish. They do not say that of even think that. They are in awe at its beauty. They will say, look at that beautiful whale. Isn't that whale beautiful! The same thing with you Mom, when people look at you, they do not see you a being the big fat lady that you think you are, all they see is a beautiful lady, inside and out. I was so touched that I had wanted to cry. I said Tracie, that is so beautiful. What a beautiful thing to say to me. And she meant it. She said, I do not see a big fat Mom when I look at you, I see a beautiful, loving Mom, who I love being with. She really touched my heart.
Yes, it is much better keeping the positive things in mind. Some times it is like therapy, sharing things that still bother you, with people who know where your coming from and understand. This message board is like group therapy. Someone said to me one time, that if it happened years ago and you are still talking about it then it must still bother you. Maybe now I can move on and keep those positive thoughts in mind.
Thanks Stacy4. We all need those positive reminders. Especially now that I am job hunting again.