Oh no, biscuit! I didn't mean to set anyone else off on a downward spiral.

Maybe we can work together on improving our outlook?

No, don't give up! Try to understand why do you feel that way. We all have different styles and you cannot compare yourself to others. When we feel that way, there is always a deeper reason (maybe body issues, health problems) and that what you must discover and solve that!

BMom -- what's got you down? I saw the headline of your other thread about your haircut making everything "not work". I know it can feel overwhelming when nothing works -- how can we help?

Oh, BM, I've felt that way. I'm so sorry you're going through such a rough patch. Please stay with us. This fantastic, supportive community has helped lift my spirits a number of times. I'm sending you lots of good thoughts and virtual hugs.

Sending lots of positive thoughts to you, BM.

You deserve to feel and look your best because you are the only you there is, completely unique ((hugs))

Oh, BM, this does not sound good at all! {{hugs}} You are a wonderful, thoughtful, kind, supportive, fabulous woman - and you deserve to *feel* good about yourself too! Sometimes things get in the way of that, though, and I hope you can figure out what's got you down so low, so you can work on it.

You've gotten such incredible, insightful advice here. I hope some of it really resonates with where you are at.

I had to go catch up on Mander's thread, and saw your beautiful post to her. Those same words are true when directed at you:
. . . the YLF community being so supportive. I really hope you take their kind words and wisdom to heart, for they speak the truth...I wish you could see what the rest of us see in you! You are a very lovely, brave woman....

BM, please don't give into that feeling right now. I know that you have been going through hell. This would make anyone weary and beaten down. It seems that we are the last thing to worry about ..but don't give in to that.

Even if you feel that it is not worth it..please tell yourself that OTHER people do feel that you are worth it. YOU ARE !!!! Please tell yourself that. Allow yourself some time to feel a little frivolous and kind to yourself.

And worth is not measured in looks or clothing. One of my favorite sayings of all times is "fake it til you make it".

So frankly, I don't care if you are a "fraud" right now : ) Keep on doing it until you become it. Hey, I look in the mirror and I see my crooked leg and my uneven eyes with one hood really drooping, I see the damage to my skin and the big belly. I see it too. But I still tell my kids that the song " That's what makes you beautiful" by the teenage boy band was written for me ! I know that I am not Cindy Crawford.

Sometimes that is all we got ....but you ARE so wonderful and generous and kind and THAT is not FRAUDULENT. Look at your hands and think of all the people ( and dog ) that you have taken care of. Your hands have typed beautiful words here to support women and encourage them. Think of your heart and how it has been open and full for Steve and how supportive and kind you were to me with my cancer battle ( and you don't even KNOW ME ! ) . Think of your ears and how they listen to your sister through cancer. Think of how your imperfect body ( we all have imperfect bodies ) and how it has taken care of and nursed Biscuit through cancer. THAT IS BEAUTIFUL MY FRIEND. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL ! I don't even have to see a picture of you.

Please don't go away for long.

I'm sorry that you're feeling down on yourself. This is the season that many of us start to feel less than fab. We're losing the light, the days are getting shorter, and it's hard to adjust. You are every bit as fab as any of us and its very sad to me to hear how despondent you are. I think your recent haircut has disappointed you, right? Could that be the straw that broke the camel's back? Try to hang in there and look to something more positive. We would hate to lose your thoughtful comments on the forum.

Please don't leave, BM, but if you need a break for awhile we will be here when you get back, We will miss you and hopefully there are lots of good things to offer you here. I hope you never give up on yourself...we are all works in progress and all of us have our strengths and weaknesses.

This breaks my heart to read, BM. You need to believe in yourself. Remember you are special! You are beautifully and wonderfully made, and there is only one of you. You have a lot of support from everyone at YLF, and we'll help you through this. Carole said it best when she said we all have our strengths and weaknesses, and that we're all works in progress. I'll be praying for you.

Love, Ruth

BM, I loved picking out the bird scarf for you last Christmas for Secret Santa. You are such a warm, generous member of YLF. You are important! Please put on the bird scarf and know that YLF loves you.

So much good advice and warm words, I don't know what to add. I will echo the thought that you are a valued member of this community. You are part of what makes YLF so unique and wonderful.....THAT is part of your real self!

Biscuitsmom: Isabel posted so eloquently many of the reasons you are so worth it. Every word rings true in her post. Testament to your warmth, your kindness, your wonderful giving nature.
Thinking of you, keeping you in my thoughts,sending hugs and leaving you with two of my favorite sayings when I am feeling down: " This too shall pass" and as Scarlett O'Hara so eloquently said " And tomorrow is another day".

Bisquitsmom please don't leave the forum. If you are feeling down you need the support more than ever. We care about each other.

BM - I don't know what is going on in your head or in your life right now to make you feel so down but you are part of an online community that thinks you are a very special person. Please be as kind & forgiving & nurturing to yourself as you are to others. It's hard sometimes to get on with life and stay positive and if you are feeling there is only darkness on the horizon maybe some help is needed:
http://www.depression.org.nz/content/depression
Stay strong, love yourself as you love others - you are worth it and please don't leave all your friends here on the forum.

Dear Biscuitsmom - hugs to you!!! I originally met you on another forum (you and I had different names then, but I recognize adorable Biscuit), and there - as here - you were never anything but kind, helpful and generous. When that forum became an uncomortable place to be, you pointed me and others to YLF. When I think of you I think of a beautiful person...one who is beautiful for all the right reasons. Please, please don't sell yourself short. You are lovely, loving and deserving!

Omg...I cant begin to tell you all how much your support, kindness and warmth means to me! Shortly after I posted this, my computer bit the dust. I started crying when I was reading the first posts and it didnt take long before I was bawling...trying not to sound too melodramatic, but you all helped pull me from the edge, truly. Words can never fully describe my gratitude to each of you who took the time to write....Im not really a religous person, but God Bless every one of you....we just got a new computer and I will be spending as much time as I can the next few days thanking all of you!

Don't even worry about it, biscuit. It's our desire to lift each other up here.