That Little Girl

Today, I was going to post about "Continuing Beauty Challenge Number 2" (my feet), but I'm going to put that one off and tell you about a little girl.  She is pictured at the left, with her very cute younger brother.  That little girl is me.  Looking at her (and remembering her), I can see that she is not perfect.  She has red hair, freckles, a habit of squinting, knobby knees and a very tentative smile.  I can also see that she is a precious child, whom I would hug if I could, because she deserves hugging.  I would encourage her, forgive her when she makes mistakes, and reassure her that she is pretty (remembering what my mother told me: pretty is as pretty does, and knowing that this little girl tries her very best to be good).

I am still that little girl inside.  I suspect that we are all "that little girl" inside, but sometimes we forget.  I used to have a picture of my little girl self on my desk at work as a reminder.  The reason was (and is) that I am pretty hard on that little girl, all grown up.  I nag her about her mistakes, I focus on regrets, I belittle her appearance, sometimes I don't give her a moment's rest.  Sometimes the little girl inside me needs a hug, needs to be told that she is a good girl, and that she is loved.  It is up to grown-up me to do that, so that the little girl doesn't whither away and turn into a bitter, mean-spirited old lady.  I'm promising myself to do that.  The other thing I'll do is remember that there are other little girls around me (little boys, too), and treat them with tenderness.

Give your little girl a hug for me!

Annie Joy