"Sticks and stones may break my bones..."

There's a Swahili saying that goes: "It is not what name others call you that matters, but what name you respond to that truly determines who you are."

Have you ever done something you weren't proud of and told yourself how stupid you were?

Or allowed yourself to "believe" some nasty things your siblings told you about yourself?  (Remember the Smothers Brothers?  "Mom always loved you best.")

One of the tools you learn while going to Weight Watchers is positive self talk.  You can beat yourself up for eating what you knew you shouldn't, or you can tell yourself that you just gave yourself a nice treat and that you'll move on from that point. 

I've had a number of discussions with a number of friends lately about how others' words have such a profound, intimidating, lasting effect on us that it truly affects how we view happy occasions.  I've read quite a number of blogs lately that mention the effects on someone's life that cruel words can create.

My good friend, Leanne at From Chaos Comes Happiness ran this blog post on her birthday, talking about how she really didn't like celebrating her birthday.  All because of words spoken 15 years ago. 

More and more I am finding that what others say to me really doesn't matter.  But what I say to me does.  And my wish is that my dearest friends and I will use the positive self talk that we know about, to make sure we believe the good stuff, not the crazy comments of others. 

There are TONS of online classes that work at doing just that. 

Brave Girls Club 

and

And there are many more.  In fact, I'd love to hear about the sites you visit to that give you the wind beneath your wings.  Because as they say in the old L'Oreal commercials, "I'm worth it".