You Are More Than Enough and Not Too Much

Your son asked to play Legos with you, but you were too tired and watched an episode of Modern Family instead.

You said that you would get back to exercising this week.  But you obviously haven't.  Just ask your love handles.

You bought tons of fruits and vegetables this week, but you made mac n cheese for dinner instead.  Have you read the research on processed foods?

You keep meaning to call the babysitter to schedule a date with your husband, but the weeks keep slipping by.  When is the last time you had a quality conversation?

You are not enough.  

You hogged the conversation at the playdate today.  You didn't give anyone else a chance to talk.

You laughed too loudly at an inappropriate time.  Everyone noticed.

You are too much.

I can't be the only woman with this dialogue playing on loop in my head.
Over and over and over and over.

Being a woman in 2014 is not easy.
We are too much.  We are not enough.
We need to lose weight.  But still be happy with our weight.
We need to work.  But accept making less money than men.
We need to keep our homes perfect.  But not take time away from our children to do so.
We spend our days investing into our children.  Only to read an article about how we're doing it all wrong.
We try to make the best decisions for our family.  Only for strangers to question our values.
We finally make a healthy meal.  Only for our children to gag and refuse to eat.

I am not sure if this struggle is new or if it's been plaguing women since the beginning.
All I know is that it's hard.  And I'm tired of it.

Because, you know what??

Women, we are enough.  We are more than enough.  And we aren't too much.
We are just as we should be.  Not perfect.  Because perfection is an unattainable goal (that I imagine to be quite boring).
Our personality quirks are what make us unique and what make the world fun.
The size on your clothing does not reflect the size of your heart. Your kind, selfless heart that gives to your husband, children, friends, and co-workers when there is nothing else left to give.
The size of your house doesn't reflect the warmth and peace found in your home.  Your home that is safe and welcoming in the midst of piles of laundry and sticky floors and screaming toddlers.
Whether you're a CEO commanding boardrooms, a faithful employee in a cubicle or behind a counter, or a mom at home changing diapers, what you're doing matters.

And you, my friend, are powerful.  Your life counts.  You are playing a significant role in this story.  And you're irreplaceable.

The media spends billions of dollars to tell us who we aren't and who we should be. This assault has made us forget who we are and try to be something we're not.

We are fierce.
We are smart.
We are strong.
We are influential.
We are persuasive.
We are capable.
We love well.
We forgive quickly.
We work hard.
We are gifted.
We are passionate.
We are a force to be reckoned with.

And when we start believing the reality who we are....and stop listening to the lies that tell us we aren't good enough and remind us of all the ways we don't measure up.....watch out....we will be unstoppable.

Let's do this, women.

You are more than enough.  And you're not too much.