Last year my girlfriend and I were at an amazing hamburger spot stuffing ourselves with onion rings and beef when we came up with a brilliant plan. We decided that the following year, no matter what steps we had (or had not) taken to get into shape, we were going to travel to Miami or some other major hot spot and wear a bikini on the beach. Okay, if you still have a smoking hot body then you don’t understand the significance of such lofty plans. But for women like me who have said goodbye to their old, tight, fit bodies as a result of giving birth, neglecting to work out, overeating, depression, etc., etc., the time comes when you have to accept yourself right now.

Looking back at old pictures of myself, I realize that even then I was looking far better than I do now, I was determined to be overly critical of my physical appearance. I refused to give myself any credit because I was comparing myself to other women or a younger version of me. As you read this, you may be in the best shape of your life or in such bad shape that your refuse to disrobe in front of your mate with the lights on. Whichever situation you can relate to, it’s time to love you right now. Do you have cellulite on your thighs? Love it now. Do you have stretch marks that you wish would disappear? Love them now. A belly that just won’t quit? Love it now. It’s time to take yourself at face value and to love yourself (the good, bad and ugly) for who you are at this given moment.

It’s not to say there’s not room for improvement or that you did everything you could to change the things you don’t like. Instead, it’s about acknowledging that you are who you are and it’s up to you to shift habits in order to achieve certain physical characteristics that you desire. I know this may sound cliche but it’s true. Regardless of what you love or don’t love about yourself, there’s no one else on this earth quite like you. Embrace your existence as we go into 2013 and love yourself!

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Sid Powell is the NAACP nominated screenplay writer of ‘Somebody’s Child’, a mother of two, and the owner of SIDPo Productions. Read more about how SIDPo Productions is ‘Changing Everything’ at www.sidpoproductions.com.