Heartbroken widow's advice for self-conscious mums

So, so, important!

April 07 2017

Michelle Steinke has two kids and always found a reason to not get in family pictures when they were younger. In her touching post she shared one rare snap she had from those days.

My self-hate and loathing kept me from taking photos of my babies and photos with the man I loved,’ she wrote.

I suppose we all have regrets. We shouldn't, but we do. One of my biggest regrets is that I wasn't in many photos. My self-hate and loathing kept me from taking photos of my babies and photos with the man I loved. Hindsight is always 20/20. I can tell you now it was stupid. I can tell you my kids loved me regardless of my weight. I can tell you my husband loved me irrespective of my body. I can tell you when he was gone and they started to grow I regretted not being in more photos and loving the life I was living when I was living it. Hindsight is always 20/20. The day he died, all I cared about was the memories we made, the trips we took and the photos of our whole family. I regret not being in the photos. Perfection is a myth. Even after I lost 70 pounds and found my fitness, I realized I still was far from perfect. You can always work on improving yourself but this moment will never come again. Don't waste it wishing you were more. You are enough, right now, right as you are. Take the photos. Love your life. Don't regret what you can control. Good night world, Michelle <3

Devastatingly, Michelle’s husband died when her kids Addison and Matthew were still toddlers. She admits her one regret was not being in more photos with them.

‘I can tell you now it was stupid.

‘I can tell you my kids loved me regardless of my weight. I can tell you my husband loved me irrespective of my body.

‘I regretted not being in more photos and loving the life I was living when I was living it.’

This photo was taken 2 months before my husband's tragic plane crash. I remember the photo well. It was 1 of only 3 photos I took while we vacationed in Maui and I pulled my kids in close to cover my body. It was a dream trip with our 8 month old son and our 2 year old daughter but I didn't enjoy it like I should have. Despite having so many reasons to be happy I was filled with self-hate and loathing. I hated myself for gaining weight and I often took that self hate out on the people I loved most. I regret it. I regret not just loving myself in the moment. I regret not taking more photos with my family while we could. I regret not living on this trip - but hiding in the background. My point? Life is short and not a single one of us is perfect. My kids didn't care that I'd gained weight. My husband certainly did not care...he always loved me just the way I was. Don't wait until you reach some unrealistic goal of perfection to embrace this life. Take the photos Embark on the adventure Smile Laugh Love Life's short and you never know when you will go on your last family trip. Perfection is a myth. Happiness is self-generated from deep inside and only you can decide to love yourself. Michelle <3 #noexcusesnoregrets #liveinspired #live #healthy #hope #loveyourself #dontmissout

She finishes up by imploring women to love themselves as they are and not be afraid to take photos.

‘You can always work on improving yourself but this moment will never come again

‘Don't waste it wishing you were more.

‘You are enough, right now, right as you are.’

Amen, Michelle!

This article originally appeared on that's life!