Being Proud

Before I met my husband, I had always thought very negatively about the words pride and proud. Somehow in my childhood I equated being proud of myself with being prideful. I remember John being able to be proud of his work and accomplishments and I didn’t know how to respond to that. Just accepting a compliment was painful to me. It felt wrong because weren’t we just “doing what we were supposed to do with the gifts and abilities that we’d been given.” Wow. What a joy-sucking mentality that was. Graciously accepting recognition for your achievements is acknowledging that others care about you and see you and what you are doing. Giving yourself kudos allows you to be grateful for what you have done and to the giver of those abilities. It allows you to push onward to try even more challenging things. Teach yourselves and your children the difference between pride and pridefulness and encourage yourselves and them to be proud. A few hours ago I finished hiking just short of 25 miles. I am tired and I am proud.