I talk a lot about personal responsibility and making choices at every juncture and moment of my life.  The scientific world is validating the metaphysical concept that our thoughts create our reality, and that what we believe and desire is what is manifest in our lives.  I have been conscious of this reality for many years.  My practice of focusing on the positive in my life to attract joy and love has certainly made a huge difference in my life.  In many ways, I am very good at manifesting what I need and desire.

And yet, there are still areas of my life where it seems I am unable to manifest the things and circumstances that I consciously desire.  I have been taking this inability to be a perfect manifest-er very seriously and very personally.  It seems like I ought to be able to manifest a smaller body, but that has not happened yet.  And then, in my head, I heard that statement again. “We are not making things happen in our lives, we are making them welcome.”

I looked in the mirror and welcomed my image.  I welcomed each double chin, each layer of fat, each jiggle and ripple.  I welcomed every part of me just because it exists, just because I exist.  I welcomed the shirt that stretched over my belly and the pants that fit too tight in the waist. I welcomed the butt that stuck out in the back and upper arm fat that peaked out below the short sleeves. 

This is what I look like and I welcome it.  I welcome the fact that I am conscious of what I look like and that I have the capacity to choose to give thanks for it.  I welcome the body that houses my consciousness, the body that is the means by which I can love, laugh, think, eat, pray, be angry, feel sorrow, rejoice, sleep, hurt, heal, and sing. 

This is who I am right now.  This is what I look like right now.  And I make it welcome.