Conference turris::womannotes-v3

    Sometimes, I *create* the most *amazing* things.
    
    -Jody
    

    
    	yes Jody, like your poetry.  Always exquisite.
    
    	I like me pretty much the way I am.  I don't think anyone
    	thinks that they're "perfect" and can't be improved upon,
    	which is something I try and do.  I used to be extremely
    	insecure (still am at times) and was always trying to get
    	people to accept me.  Which usually turned out with me not
    	being myself.  Finally I woke up and said "tough cookies...
    	they either take me the way I am, or sayonara!"  I think that
    	if I didn't have that kind of self-confidence now I'd never
    	be able to carry on with selling lingerie part time in front
    	of women (and sometimes men) that I've never met before.  Or
    	talk about my experiences with the business in front of the 
    	other agents and be able to admit to my downfalls as well as
    	my triumphs.  And that feels good.!  I don't have to try and
    	'prove' myself anymore because I know there are a lot of people
    	out there who like me just the way I am....
    
    	I had written a poem and the last line of it goes...
    	'for you must love yourself first, before others can try'....
    
    			JJ
    

    
    Apart from my quick temper, my allergies and my slight disorgainzation, 
    I am happy with myself.
    
    I don't think I'll exchange my qualities (good and bad) with someone 
    else's.
    
    
    	Eva.

    Way to go Barb (^' I know we've been this road before, but I now don't
    give a figs a** what anybody thinks of me.  I think I'm pretty
    wonderful, and thats all that matters.  Looking back over my trip to
    your great country its a wonder any of you coped with me.  Americans
    tend to be very conservative, and I was my usual self, swearing,
    wearing my usual cas clothes.  Even AKO coped with all day meetings (^'
    
    I don't have to measure up to anybody's expectations, just mine and all
    I ask of myself is honesty, and to be the best I can possibly be. 
    Okay, so sometimes when I'm tired or having problems at work its a bit
    harder to be that up - but 99% of the time ain't too bad.
    
    ...dale
    
    

I think I'm pretty damned fabulous. I'm smart, committed, compassionate, and
talented.  I have the ability to laugh whether buffeted by the winds of
fortune or misfortune. [most of the time, anyway] I like the way I look.

Of course, I'm always engaged in activities that will make me more fabulous.

  Annie

    Thanks Barb!!  Just where I was trying to get in my reply about
    why women think theyneed to be skinny.  When I read the note on
    what makes you feel self-concious I tried to think of things that
    make me feek self-concious and realized that I could only think of 
    things that used to make me feel self-concious.  What a great feeling!
    
    It took a long time and a great deal of work to learn to really like
    "ME" but it sure was worth it!
    
    Polly

    re:  .5 SNOC01::MYNOTT
    
    Your second paragraph says it all....I feel exactly the same way, only
    you said it first!  Thnx, Dale.
    
    Ain't life great?!!
    
    -Dotti.
    

    I used to bemoan my ugly this or my inadequte that but then I looked at
    it a new way.  I asked myself if I'd be willing to chuck it all back
    into the gene pool and take another shot at what might 'fall out' and 
    become me.  And that's a defininte NO!  So even with my ugly this and
    inadequate that, I'll take the combo I got, thanx!  (Tho if I could 
    lengthen my spine and redo the face *just* a tad...)  ;-)

    re .9, that's an interesting way to look at it, Sandy.  No, I don't
    think I'd be willing to take another shot at the gene pool either!
     (I may not be a great beauty, but when I see what some people got,
    I know it could be far worse!!!!)  :-)
    
    Lorna
    

    I believe that as we 'grow up' (which is a process that continues
    throughout our lives), we learn how to apply *to ourselves* the
    benefits of that short poem (I know I haven't got it right, BTW)
    
    	Give the serenity to accept what can't be changed,
    	     the courage to change what can,
    	     and the wisdom to know the difference.
    
    I like myself, respect myself, enjoy the person I am growing to
    be.  Some of the things which cause me periodic embarassment I now
    know to be in the 'can't be changed' category - those who love me
    will simply have to accept that this is part of who I am.  Some
    things I'm still working on - not to grow is to cease living and
    merely exist.  And wisdom comes from knowing that not all of the
    changes need be made at once :-)
    
    May you find peace, serenity, and confidence
    
    Alison

    
    The first time I posted this was 535.151 Woman Poems.  I think this
    really describes me.
    
    
    	An original of mine...
    
    			A DECADE OF CHANGE
    
    	 	I came into this decade a child
    		Budding into adolescence;
    		Like a newborn calf on unsteady legs
    		Unsure of what lay ahead of me
    		And unsure of myself,
    		Shy, reserved and fearful.
    		But deep down inside I wanted to be more;
    		And would be.
    		As time passed by I yearned to be free.
    		I was rebellious.
    		But still unsure, unsure of what I was rebelling for,
    			or against.
    		I slowly matured and entered into the four years
    			of what I would soon realize
    		Were the easiest years of my life.
    		Then, before I knew it, my school years were over
    			and real life stepped in.
    		I came out of my shell
    		Ready to face the world
    		Set new goals,
    		Sailed toward new horizons;
    		Becoming the person I wanted to be.
    		Sure of herself, accepted and loved by many.
    		Proud of who I was and where I came from.
    		Not trying so hard to prove myself;
    		Which had sometimes caused me to lose 'me', 
    		Becoming someone I wasn't.
    
    		Now as this decade comes to an end
    		I know who I am and who I will be in years to come.
    		Strong and determined
    		Yet sensitive and caring.
    		With values passed on to me by the parents who
    			love and raised me.
    		What the next ten years will bring
    		One can't know.
    		But from what I've learned and how I've changed,
    		I know I will achieve my goals and have happiness.
    
    						J. Morrissey
    						December '89
    
	JJ    

    Brains, braun and good-looks all in one package.
    
    If I just wasn't so darn coneited I'd be perfect.
    
    fred();

    Maybe he's got a built in coffee maker, Mike. :-) I'd find that sort of
    useful.

re.14

> uh, fred(), it's "brawn"

Don't be too sure, Mike.  I was just thinking of looking fred() up to see if
he might have a spare citromiser to complete my braun collection.  Some women
find a man with braun _very_ attractive indeed ... ;^) !

  Annie

    yea! should have bee 'brawn'.  So what's a type-o among friends.
    (So I've got 2 flaws--can't spell either).
    fred();

    I am a wonderful person.
    
    I am intelligent, beautiful, warm, sharing, loving and vibrant.
    
    I am loveable. (repeat 100 times)
    
    D!