Dearest Ash,

I just don’t feel beautiful any more.  Most days, I feel fat and stinky.  My self-esteem is in the gutter!  I’m a busy mom, working full time and trying to keep the kids occupied.  When I have down time, which is almost never, all I want to do is curl up and hide!

Fat and Stinky in SD

Dear NOT Fat and Stinky,

1. Quit talking about yourself like that.  Start saying NICE things about yourself, to yourself!
2. Start making time for yourself.  Take a nice long bath or shower.  Light a candle, shave, and lather up with yummy smelling body wash.  It’s time to start actively making the effort to LOVE YOURSELF!
3. Paint your fingernails and toenails, if you like that sort of thing.
4. Give yourself at least thirty minutes every other day of self-pampering.  Treat yourself the way you’d treat someone you really love.  Spoil yourself.  It’s not wrong to set aside a small amount of the day to do things that show yourself you love YOU.