Dear pre-pregnant self,
You don’t know this, but in a few short years, your body will do something miraculous. It will stretch and grow and give everything to a small person who will change your world.
Your husband will still love you, still find you attractive and you don’t have to brush off his compliments, because they are genuine.
Your friends will complain about their stretch marks, their saggy breasts and their inability to lose those “last 10 pounds,” but you don’t have to join them. Instead be proud of who you are. Know that yes, you are beautiful, but just like your mother always said, outside beauty isn’t everything, it’s what’s on the inside that really matters.
Let the world see the joy in your heart, your passion for changing the world and your love for fellow man. Let exercise be an act of pleasure, not dread, something done for enjoyment, not out of necessity. Have a cookie, or two, or a glass of wine at the end of the day.
You deserve it, you’ve come a long way. While you may not recognize the body in the mirror in a few years, it is indeed yours. And you only get one, so take care of it. But don’t forget to nourish the soul inside as well.
Love,
Your postpartum self
