My theme for this year’s Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is Cultivating Happiness. Today, A is for Acceptance.
As I helped Mrs Gomes walk up the stairs, she paused, looked at me and said, “You have a beautiful soul.”
I smiled and said, “The one person to whom this matters, knows it too.”
“Your husband must be proud of you”, she said.
“I hope so. But I meant me. I’m beautiful to me.”
A Word to the Wise
Accept yourself for who you are. Until you accept yourself you will never cultivate genuine happiness. Change when necessary but accept the wonderful being that you are. Accept others because you can’t change them. The more you accept and the less you try to transform others, the happier you will be.
134 Responses
Yes, everyone should think such! Such an amazing post to start up this challenge 😀
Thanks Stephen. Liked your He/She story too 🙂
I love the saying by Tina Lifford. Glad that you added it to this post. Great A post Shilpa!
Thank you, Cheryl 🙂
It is fitting that the first 2016 A to Z official comment I leave is on your blog, Shilpa! Looking forward to your near-daily nuggets of how to cultivate happiness!!!
Aha! I am honoured!! Thanks a lot, LuAnn! Looking forward to read you too 🙂
Yes yours is the very first Shilpa that I’m commenting on-the very first that is up! Lovely 55 words!❣
What an honour this is, Susan. Thank you! Looking forward to read your posts 🙂
It is very important that we accept that we are beautiful 🙂 I loved it. I’ll enjoy reading you this April, SG. 😀
True, accepting who you are is the first step towards happiness. Thanks a lot, Vinay! Glad you liked it!
As always – you rock the 55ers. What a start! All the best for AtoZ, Shilpa. 🙂
You are too kind, Shantala. Thank you 🙂
Well, you took me by surprise. But it’s true, eh? We often don’t know, or understand, our worth. And yeah, you’re probably right., We’d be happier if we did.
@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter – Jazz Age Jazz
Accepting self is the key. Somebody has said it so rightly, ‘We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.’
you are the queen of 55 fiction 🙂 Awesome as always, loved it.
You are so generous, A! Thanks for your kind words 🙂
Very wise words Shilpa… Beautifully articulated 🙂
Thank you Raj 🙂
What a lovely post. <3 🙂
Thanks Shashank 🙂
So true, so true, Shilpa! I love micro-fiction–looking forward to reading you 🙂 This is my first A-Z Challenge … but in the U.S. it’s still 3/31!
Glad you liked this, Laurie. I will hop over to your blog soon and good luck for the challenge. Believe me it is a lot of fun 🙂
What a perfect post to start off my A to Z Challenge! I look forward to reading more!
Mary
Thanks Mary! Looking forward to read you too! Cheers 🙂
Very true Shilpa….. One needs to be totally in acceptance of oneself and that’s most important for we’ll being
True that. Like they say, you’re always with yourself, so you might as well enjoy the company. 🙂
Haha that is a good one.
Shilpa, you have started the Challenge with a bang. Self acceptance boosts self esteem.
Oh yes, when we embrace who we are the world embraces us right back and that’s so good for our self esteem. Thanks Ajay! Glad you liked this 55er!
Great post, Shilpa! Self-esteem is very important. You’ve said it so well 🙂
Thank you, Esha! 🙂
It is so so important to accept ourselves the way we are. 55 words and a lovely message you got there. Good one Shilpa!
True that, when we accept ourselves with our flaws, quirks, talents, secret thoughts, we experience true liberation. Thanks Parul!
Such an impact on the very first post!! Brilliant Shilpa.. I’m really going to learn a lot from you this April 🙂
Cheers
Thank you, Geetika! We are all in this together and we learn a lot from each other! 🙂 Looking forward to read you all this April. Cheers 🙂
This post is something that all of us need to read. Specially all my teenage friends who’ve lost confidence in themselves. I’m going to share it in my whatsapp groups.
Amazing start to the challenge 🙂
Oh! Sad for your friends. Hope they realize their true self and worth coz that’s the best gift they can give to themselves. Thanks a lot, Mithila. You are a sweetheart! 🙂
I think the first step — that is of one knowing oneself is the biggest step and probably the toughest.. and once you get this done..accepting becomes easier!!
Oh yes, knowing yourself, freeing the blind spots is critical.
A fitting start to the challenge Shilpa! Life is all about Accepting one’s lot! Loved the quote. Cheers 🙂
Thanks Kala. Glad you liked it! 🙂
true that! I totally relate to this 🙂
Best wishes with the challenge 🙂
Thanks a lot, M! It would be nice to see you joining in for the challenge too 🙂
Wow! what a great start! indeed it is so important to love oneself first!
Shubhangi @ The Little Princess
Thank you, Shubhangi 🙂
An important lesson for life expressed beautifully. A smile spread on my face after reading this 🙂 Wishing you a great month of April.
http://drsushreedash.blogspot.in/2016/04/absence.html
Thanks Sushree and good luck to you too 🙂
Love the story, and the quote. Great beginning. 😀
Thank you, Inderpreet 🙂
I love your theme and the post. Powerful message in just a few words.
BellyBytes from
Mumbai On A High
Thanks a lot, Sunita 🙂
Be You. As simple as that, right? Great start, Shilpa. Loved it! 🙂
Visit to read Army Wife Tales at Tale of Two Tomatoes
Also drop in to check 26 Chicken Recipes at Something’s Cooking
Thanks Shalini! 🙂
Loved your take on acceptance and just like everything begins with self, you’ve started the A to Z challenge on an inspiringly positive note 😀
Way to go Shilpa!
Oh yes, self acceptance is real power. Thanks ME 🙂
Yours is the second beautiful post on Acceptance. Self-love is the greatest love of all!
Thank you Shilpa – looking forward to reading your spots. Love your theme!
Thanks a lot, Vidya. Glad you liked this post and the theme too 🙂
Wise thoughts Shilpa and nicely put forward…
Thanks Shesha 🙂
Shilpa ! yours is the first post I read 🙂
Wow What a punch line on self acceptance. I am getting addicted to your blog 🙂 you have a magnet dear and so I shall not miss any post for this whole month. Love and hugs
Thanks a lot, Genevive. You are so generous. It is always a pleasure to read you here 🙂 ♥
We picked same words for today. But that was to be expected, right? Happiness begins with acceptance after all!
Yeah, I decided to join in again! I got a really nice comment on my theme reveal post last night, and it got me all emotional. So I entered again! I don’t know how long I’ll last though.
– Chicky Kadambari @ http://www.mysteriouskaddu.com
Good to see you back in the challenge, Kadambari. I know, you will ace it! After all, you have to publish another ebook with the posts from this challenge 🙂
so true, loving thyself is so important, simple thoughts in life can change it for better 🙂
Well said, Karan. Somebody has said it so rightly, “There’s no alternative to being yourself. Accept it, honour it, value it – and get on with it” 🙂
I quite like me. Most of the time anyway! Happy A-Z.
Keith’s Tiny Tales! My obscure word today is absquatulate
That’s fantastic, Keith, that’s how it should be.
Happy A-Z to you too 🙂
Superb… I repeat what I always say. You are among the best I know when it comes to weaving emotions in such short bursts.
You are so very generous, Roshan. Thanks for your kind words 🙂
No one can beat you in 55fiction. As always nailed this one too. 🙂
Glad you liked it Sheethal. Thanks 🙂
Great A!
Thank you, Ella 🙂
… and you’re off with a bang. This is so good.
Hope I am able to last! 😛
Thank you, Tulika 🙂
Wow, loved it as always!!
Glad you enjoyed this 55er, Ruchi 🙂
A good thought!
Sophie
Sophie’s Thoughts & Fumbles | Wittegen Press | FB3X 🙂
Thank you, Sophie 🙂
Beautiful! Your post lifted up my dull mood instantly! 🙂
Glad that it uplifted you, Nibha 🙂
This is exactly how I think!
Beautiful! 🙂
Love your attitude, Soumya 🙂
Great post in 55 words. Best wishes! 🙂
Sudha from
Everyday Muse
Thanks Sudha. Good luck to you too 🙂
Well said.
Thank you, Melanie 🙂
Lovely, truly. I’m still a work in progress! LOL
Thank you for posting for the A to Z!
Ninga Minion @YolandaRenee from
Defending The Pen
Parallels
Murderous Imaginings
We all are, actually, Yolanda. The trick is to keep evolving, growing and empowering self as we move ahead in our journey of life 🙂
Beautiful! I’m there for myself, even when no one else will be. Especially when. Nothing like accepting and believing in yourself. Nice one, Shilpa!
Cheers,
Deepa
Deepa’s Kaleidoscope
Oh yes, you are your best support system. And you cant encourage and empower yourself if you dont accept yourself! Thks Deepa 🙂
Accepting oneself rather than wait for other person to pronounce their verdict is wisdom. And what a lovely write-up in just 55 words, Shilpa.
Well said. Thank you, Kalpana 🙂
In school during an Orientation session we were told a story about a little girl who was asked to describe what she is and what does she believe about God. That night she wrote: I am ME & I am Good, Coz God Makes no JUNK 🙂
Thats my war cry sometimes 😉
Hope to read more from you. All the best !
My entry for A to Z Challenge 2016: Letter A for Anchor
http://nav-justanyrandomtopic.blogspot.in/2016/04/atoz-challenge-2016-letter-for-anchor.html
Love that story and that’s a great energizer to have for self, I will keep it in mind too. Thanks for sharing that, Nilima 🙂
What a wonderful theme!
Thank you, Carol 🙂
This is absolutely true. Great start to the A-Z, Shilpa. 🙂
Thank you, Debbie. Love your doggy tales too 🙂
Shilpa,you started this challenge on such a wonderful note that you are going to have problems, since the bar is set so high 🙂
I know, I know … and this is making me nervous, Sulekha. I dont know whether I will be able to last!! 🙁
I love love love this post! 🙂
This is a fab start to the challenge.
Thank you Maya. 🙂
Welcome to this space!
When you respect yourself, the world respects you… A great reminder to love onself…:)
True that! 🙂
This is so pretty. loved loved loved it. 🙂
njn-sorceress.blogspot.com
Thanks a lot, Sanjana 🙂
Great start for the A to Z challenge. Loved your post, Shilpa !!!
Thanks a lot, Vasantha 🙂
short sweet and touching.
been ruminating about the frustatingly competitive world that we live in where one’s belief in oneself is constantly tested…
keep it going
all the best for the a to z 2016
Agree with you, Jayanthi. And one has constantly prove self time and again. Thank you! Good luck to you too!
Yes! I one person who matters the most is truly yourself!
Absolutely! Hope all of us believe that!
so true shilpa and that’s a great start to the challenge ” Accept yourself and change when necessary…..” . Will be with you through the challenge cheering you all along!
Thank you so much, Asha. Your support means a lot ♥
Kudos to Miss Three Roses! Great inspiration for those aspiring to 55Fiction 🙂