To answer this question, I invite you to: http://LookAroundMe.blogspot.com

While I was in school my Father was in the Army and we moved around so much that I could never make long turn friends, so I always felt awkward. When I married my first husband he was always putting me down and beating me up. Finally when I met my second husband he took all the negative feelings and got me feeling great and that there is nothing that I can not do.

When I finally realized that getting old sucked but I could actually live with it and enjoy it. When I realized finally that wrinkles are earned and I’m not 28 anymore and I don’t have to impress a single damned human being but myself. So am I comfortable—well hell, I’d love to be able to do it over again—but since time travel isn’t feasible I’ll live with me as I am.

I will never stop trying to improve.

The skin one is born in was actually pretty fine, but since I’ve been in charge of it, I’ve put on weight that is entirely my fault and about which I am horrifically ashamed.

I do so admire those women who appear to be confident enough to be accepted in any society. I don’t know how you get to be one of those women and wish, do so wish that I would. Always trying to lose weight, or change make up or hair and yet, I see pictures of myself from twenty years ago (when I was trying to lose weight or change my hair or make up :) ) and see someone not bad! I must admit that I’m more comfortable now then I was then, and stopped having dreams of myself in the nude (which I interpreted as afraid people would find out what I’m really like); so perhaps if I live long enough; it’ll happen.

Pretty much from day one. I’ve always liked being who I am, warts and all.

On the joyous day I gave birth to an amazing, 10 lb - 6 oz. baby girl named Fiona, I immediately became comfortable in my own skin. Forget worrying about whether my arms flapped or whether my butt was too big! I nurtured and delivered this wondrous child! I AM WOMAN - HEAR ME ROAR!!!!

When I married my husband…my second and last…! He told me he fell in love with me from “the inside out”. He means it! It’s the most freeing thing in the world. I know this because I was married for fifteen years to a complete jerk who actually “weighed me” every Sunday. At the time? I weighed 105. I’m five nine. His favorite saying? “You’re Fat…You’re Gone!” Should have gone on a beer and donut diet the first time he said it! Grateful, now, to be married to my soulmate…he was worth waiting for.

At 22, I was in college, feeling great, looking good, and dating lots of darling boys. It was a rush, and a I’ve only gotten more secure over time.

I’m surprised that the majority so far feels like I do: To be 50 was great! It freed me of many hang-ups, and I was so much more aware of myself. Also walked my first marathon, all 26.2 miles…. Cherished memories..

Feeling comfortable in one’s own skin doesn’t mean one is no longer learning. It means that you’ve accepted your faults and your good points but you’re still willing to learn more, do more (if that’s what you want ) and be more. It’s having a positive sense of self-esteem, living in the present or in the NOW as Eckhardt Tolle calls it . It’s accpetance of yourself. It’s taking full responsibility for your actions,words, thoughts, deeds and accepting the consequences and ramifications of them. It’s becoming self-assertive enough to stand up for yourself and others when you have to and not taking crap from anyone anymore. It’s learning to live purposefully in your life however you define purpose. And it’s living with integrity with everything you do , say and think in your life. You also come to know when you’re comfortable in your own skin that happiness is a choice and isn’t determined by rank , possessions, the spouse you parntered or married, your children and grandchildren, the house /apt/ cottage you live in, your parents or grandparents’ opinions or any other external thing, like beauty, weight and size , clothing. Happiness comes from within and it’s up to you and no one else. You decide if you’re going to be happy, proactive and positive or if you’re going to be negative , unhappy and miserable. Living in your own skin it’s ok to say I disagree and not feel guilty. Or as my aunt used to say looking like a sweet little old lady with an attitude that might shock people LOL. I started feeling good about living in my own skin after I turned 40 but really feeling better about myself after 45. I plan on being a really wicked but fun centurian.