Yesterday, I started my countdown of 10 things I love about myself. Today, I'm following up with the top 5 reasons! Plus, today is Valentine's Day. I've been busy telling everyone else how much I love them and why, so here's a chance to tell myself the same thing.

As a note, I've left physical things I like about myself off this list. I actually want to do a whole separate blog about appreciating my body (because that needs some dedicated focus), so for now, I'm focusing on the non-physical and changeless things about myself that I truly love!

~ FIVE ~
I'm passionate about the things I believe in and will work hard for them. I'm a very purpose-driven person, and this has made me very successful in my line of work. I'm also pretty fortunate that I've been able to work in a field that let's me use this passion.

~ FOUR ~
I enjoy taking risks and trying new things to learn about myself. I'm not necessarily the jump-out-of-a-plane kind of risk taker, but I have moved to new places where I've known no one, I've taken on challenges with new groups, and I've even started a trivia night at a local pub, just because I thought it would be fun! What's great to me about putting myself in challenging situations is that I always learn more about myself and end up feeling pretty proud of finding success!

~ THREE ~
I'm great at finding adventure and joy in little things, and I'm truly awed by life. I'm known for telling friends and loved ones "let's have an adventure today," and I tend to frame even the mundane - like Saturday errands with my fiance - as "having an adventure." Life excites me, and I'm good living in the moment and appreciating people and experiences most of the time.

~ TWO ~
I love fiercely and strive to be kind. Maybe it's a combination of things I've mentioned before, but sometimes I just get blown away by how much I love my family, my fiance, and my friends. I also work really hard at being kind to people - and not fake kind at that. If I catch myself being negative towards someone or thinking negative thoughts about someone, I'll try to stop and make myself think 3 positive things about that person. In fact, maybe I should try being as kind to myself!

~ ONE ~
My number one favorite thing about myself is that I'm extremely resilient and strong. I know that overall I've been pretty fortunate, but I've certainly experienced some serious trauma in my life. While I'd be lying if I said that I didn't struggle in the aftermath (in fact, I developed pretty serious depression and anxiety issues for about 6 or 7 years afterwards), I don't think I ever lost sight of the fact that my life could improve and would improve if I just kept working towards it. What's more, I was successful at that work, and I think the trauma I experienced is actually pretty linked to how much I love and appreciate life now. The last real vestige of those harder times in my life is the weight I put on during it (also at least partially attributable to a broken bone, though I think the trauma is the more likely reason things spiraled so far out of control). Fortunately, I know that I'm strong enough to overcome ANYTHING, and if I struggle along the way, that doesn't mean I've failed. As hard as this journey may sometimes be, I know it will never be as hard as things I've been through in the past, and I know that I am strong enough to succeed!