Stories From Women How I Learned to Love Myself Stories

WOW! We received such wonderful and inspiring stories from our Facebook contest “How I Learned To Love Myself.” Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with WomenSpeak.

Our judges selected the first five below to each receive a $100 VISA Gift Card. We know that EVERY single one is a winner, so we have included them all here for your enjoyment.

Smart amazing women learn to love themselves. Read how below…

Congratulations to Our Winners

Abbe Ehlers – $100 Gift Card Winner Once, in an earlier time, my then-husband said to me “you smile too much, you laugh too much, you obviously don’t get how serious life is.” In essence he was trying to put a lid on my joy. And I thought, “I must be very shallow and missing something here.” So I read serious books and tried to look through critical eyes and after a while I learned “I am one of the lucky ones, I was born cheerful, I can spread joy, it takes courage to be happy.” That is how I learned to love my joyful self.
Jennifer Rigano Denbo – $100 Gift Card Winner I am 32 years old and found a lump on my breast during a self-exam in December. This was only months after a routine doctor’s office breast exam showed nothing. I’m learning to love myself again after having a double mastectomy last month. Things I once took for granted are more cherished and things that were so important (like my hair style), become frivolous. Learning to love yourself is a lifelong process, but can be achieved with an inner strength and determination. You can follow my journey here: https://www.takingitfromthetop.com .
Terri Reed – $100 Gift Card Winner How I learned to love myself:  I learned to love myself by loving the people around me:  my grandmother for the little bits of wisdom she shared with me every day.  My mother for the strength of character she demonstrated while raising six kids as a single parent.  My brothers and sisters for the unconditional loyalty they’ve shown to me through the years.  My friends for the unconditional acceptance they willingly offer whenever I show up on their doorsteps  Each of them has given me a piece of their own hearts to cherish: how can I not love that?
Yelena Bosovic – $100 Gift Card Winner I learned to love myself when I gave myself permission to be me. Growing up as a first-generation immigrant, I stood out from my peers: I spoke funny, had different traditions and a combination of acne and frizzy hair to top things off. It took years of mimicking my classmates in hopes of being accepted, before I realized that my flaws and characteristics make me who I am.  I don’t have to be the smartest, the most beautiful or the thinnest to be happy, I just have to be me. I am enough.
Suzanne Janick – $100 Gift Card Winner I started to love myself the day I decided I was worth saving and began to plan leaving my abusive marriage of 22 years. Pretending to be the perfect family while behind closed doors I lived in fear of triggering his rage. With the help of a couple who had seen his anger, neighbors who had heard his abuse, my family who had prayed I would leave him and family services, my six children and I moved out. Going back to college, graduating, cultivating new friendships and interests have been ways I have learned to love me again.

Honorable Mentions

Even though the powerful stories below did not win the Gift Certificates,  they all touched our hearts and inspired us. We thank you for submitting them. Read and enjoy!

Penny Suddock After a 17-year marriage to an emotional and mentally abusive man I got divorced and took my two kids and moved away. I decided to go to college and get a degree in computers. After three years, a stroke, and our house burning down, I finally graduated from Labette Community College with an Associate’s Degree as a Executive Administrative Assistant. It made me realize I was still a good and loving person after everything my ex had done to me. I became a stronger woman and someone I was proud of and I loved myself for being able to climb higher than I ever thought I could.
Cheryl White Early in my life, choices were made, lives were destroyed, and the young woman I had grown into was left with doubts and confusion, doubts about marriage and confusion about being loved. My father’s choice to leave a 27-year marriage and start over, without his family, shaped my life and my choices for years. I made poor choices and never felt truly loved. I rushed in and out of marriages twice. I am now an adult woman who loves herself completely. I no longer long for my earthly father’s acceptance. I ACCEPT me and more importantly, God accepts me.
Kristy Nelson I have a confession: I hated being pregnant. I hated how I looked. And to top it off, all the extra attention and comments paid to my growing stomach. I dreaded labor so much that I skipped those chapters in all of the pregnancy books. But of course, that time came. After 16 hours of labor, my bundle of joy arrived. While physically exhausted, I was amazed at what my body had gone through over the last 16 hours and the last nine months. And I realized that I loved my body (cellulite and all) because it had strength and purpose.
Denise Johnson I learned to love myself when I realized the only person I needed to please in this world was ME. This revelation led to leaving a prestigious consulting firm, downsizing my current lifestyle, and setting clear boundaries on what I would not tolerate in my life. I’m not sure if this change in attitude facilitated a late-in-life pregnancy, but I know I never would have been ready to be a mother living my past life. Now, I wake up knowing I am who I was created to be and I’m only getting better, stronger and more confident each day. (www.showmesimplicity.com)
Karen Parry I think I started loving myself when I started taking Yoga classes. Today, our teacher Molly, told us to breathe in health and strength as we filled our lungs. I know that I am stronger and more flexible than before Yoga. I like to practice the ancient stretches, and as each class ends, Molly gently tells us to “take another moment to be grateful for this time that you have set aside for yourself.” When I practice Yoga, I am “loving” myself in an active way – sending love and life and strength to all parts of my body – which is, indeed, ME! I don’t remember ever doing that before. Thank you, Molly!
Roza Andrukhovych I was an overweight child, and I hated myself for that. I couldn’t understand why I didn’t look like my friends. My heart felt broken, and I kept my pain inside. Tears rolled down my face when I looked through a magazine, or into a mirror. I remember praying every night, and asking God to make me beautiful. As I became a teenager the weight came off on its own. However, losing weight was not what made me love myself. It was an internal understanding that I am unique, and that true beauty is found in the heart.
Christy Wilkins After my sons were born, I stopped exercising and started experiencing muscle cramps, arthritis, insomnia, foggy thinking, heart palpitations, crying spells, bouts of constipation/diarrhea. Five years ago while skiing I was hit by a snowboarder. I started experiencing tingling numbness, barely sleeping, having increased diarrhea. My doctor diagnosed depression. I was bone thin. I began to love myself after firing my doctor and spending $17,000. I had a simple blood test for food intolerances. December 15, 2012 began my new life. I am back to exercising, being creative and loving life without pain. In May, 1/2 Marathon here I come!