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by Claire ColvinThe Power of Joy for Summer
Come chat on June 25th @ 9:00 p.m. Eastern
Summer is here and the living is easy. Even if you don't get nine weeks of vacation anymore, the sun still feels pretty good. Looking for a mini-break to add a little relaxation to your grown-up summer? Leave the stresses of bathing suit shopping behind and take some time to pamper yourself. Try a few of these easy ideas that work for any body and remember how much fun summer can be.
- Go play outside. There are so many things to do outside - walk, hike, play frisbee, play sports – so take the chance to get outside and enjoy a little exercise. Fresh air is good for you and a chance to get out into nature is a great way to boost your spirits. Just remember to be sun-smart, a burn doesn't look good on anyone and as we all know, the long term effects can be dangerous. Grab your sunglasses and a hat and don't forget the sunscreen.
Paint your toenails. No matter what your toes look like, they will look prettier painted. Treat yourself to a trip to the drugstore and a spend a couple of dollars on a great shade or two. You can wear much brighter colours on your feet than you can on your hands so reach for something a little wilder. Pinks are all the rage this season. Add a toe ring for extra sparkle.
- Eat fresh. Fresh fruits and vegetables are available all throughout the summer, so take the opportunity to eat as much fresh produce as possible. Not only is it delicious, but it is often low in fat, and high in fibre, vitamins and minerals. Many fruits and vegetables pack well for picnics and hikes so remember to tuck one into your bag.
- Buy one sundress. Find one that works for your body shape and you'll be amazed how often you wear it. If you can't find one that you like, look for a pattern and break out the sewing machine – sundresses are often very simple to make. Even if you only wear it in the backyard, the freedom of a little sundress is worth the effort.
- Lighten-up your make-up. The heat and humidity of summer makes paring down your make-up a practical choice, as well as feeling great. Try a little bronzer on your face in place of foundation, or try using an oil-free product to combat shine. Be daring and see how much of your make-up you can go without.
- Put some colour in your wardrobe. After the blacks and beiges of winter, summer is a great time to introduce some colour into your closet. Look for solid colour tops in bright colours or try a bold patterned skirt. Summer's fabrics are light and easy going so be a little playful with your colour choices and see what happens.
- Choose to enjoy summer this year. How many summers have you spent hiding your feet, your arms or some other part of your body that you feel doesn't measure up? Have you turned down an opportunity to go swimming or camping or sunbathing because of what you would have to wear? Bodies come in all shapes and sizes but yours in the only one you've got, so take care of it and enjoy it proudly this summer. Confidence looks great on anyone.
Self-esteem is an issue for many women.
It is amazing what we accept as truth if we hear it enough times. How quickly we are to accept another person's judgement and how serious our lack of faith in ourselves can become. For me it started during high school because of a group of four or five guys who told me that I was stupid and ugly every single day. I believed them.
Low self-esteem does not necessarily lead to depression but studies have shown that the two often go hand in hand. Low self-esteem makes you your own worst enemy. Thoughts of "if only I were prettier, if only I was good at sports, if only I was funny or popular, if only I was strong enough to fix this" crowd out everything else. Even if we receive praise, the voices inside our own heads discount it. Like Julia Roberts said in the movie Pretty Woman "the bad stuff is easier to believe."
Finding a reason to value myself
For me, things did not improve so halfway through grade eleven I transferred to a different high school. The insults stopped but I still had to face myself, running wasn't going to fix that. Recovering a sense of self worth takes more than a change of scene, it requires a change of perspective.
The summer of that year I attended a conference with a group from my parent's church and found answers in the last place I would have expected. At the conference I came to realize that God loves me very, very much. Here, finally, was a lasting source of value I could fall back on. I had a sense of self worth to build on and the healing could begin.
The world is a scary place when you stop liking yourself.
Now I had hope. I had learned about God as a child, but just trying to survive had consumed me and I had long since forgotten about Him; God had not forgotten about me. During my second year of university, I came across the verse in the Bible that is one of my favorites:
"I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:9&10)
Who am I? What a terrifying question when you don't like yourself very much. Now I have an answer: I am a woman loved by God. You can say the same. You matter to God. He loves you so much that He gave His only Son for you. You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here's a suggested prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of woman you want me to be.
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.
If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you'll experience life to the fullest.
More great ideas for summer:
Find the perfect sandals
Finding your passion
Cheap summer dates