Things I like about myself

No human is perfect. Part of being human is being imperfect. Being flawed. I think our flaws play a major role in determining who we are as a person. As a person with many flaws, I also think it is far easier to address these imperfections than it is to address our good qualities. We live in a society where self praise is looked at as conceited or stuck up or egotistical. But if we can't love ourselves, then who is to say that anyone else is going to be able to love us?

I first saw the idea for this post when Lisa from Two Martini's wrote a few things about herself she loved as part of a link up with Avoiding Atrophy. I actually saw several posts floating around blog land but I've been so entirely slammed lately that I really haven't had time to spend with this blog. So without any further adeiu:

1. My high cheekbones (thanks Mom). Being part Indian (or "Native American" if we're being politically correct) I inherited some pretty cool traits. One of them was a nose with a hump. Another is my naturally high cheekbones and I absolutely love them. 

I've heard a lot of people say that I have "strong features" and I definitely take that as a complement. You could go on youtube right now and find hundreds of "highlighting and contouring" videos, teaching women how to get their cheekbones to look like mine.
2. My ability to laugh at myself. Thankfully I have been blessed with a good sense of humor and I'm able to take a potentially bad or embarrassing situation and turn it in to a good story for later. I have no qualms telling people how I accidentally sharted my pants one time or anything else like that.
3. My independence. My entire life I have been what you could call "strong willed" and "independent" and I think that would be putting it lightly. I began taking care of my laundry and myself around the age of twelve and told my parents at the age of 14 that I was moving out the minute I turned 18 and never going back (I never did). I love that I am able to take care of myself without any help from other (although sometimes it's nice to have a little help). I know that if anything were to ever happen and I was on my own, I would be just fine. 
4. My intelligence. It may surprise you that even though I dropped out of college my first time around, I am incredibly smart. I graduated high school near the top of my class and made a high enough score on the ACT to go to any college in the country on a full ride scholarship. I have a thirst for knowledge and I love learning how to do new things. Just recently I learned how to operate a jigsaw and now I make door hangers all by myself.
5. My body. Throughout high school I was very athletic (I played a plethora of sports) and was always what I considered "healthy" - I wasn't too incredibly skinny, but I was a good weight and I was strong. 

I fell of the wagon for a while but over the past year and a half I've gained my strength and body back (mostly) and it is something that I work hard for and that I am proud to have (and maybe show off every now and then).
Sometimes it makes me sad that when someone pays someone else a compliment, (i.e. "You look soooo pretty today!") that the immediate response is something along the lines of "OMG no way! I have a huge pimple on my cheek and I barely put any make up on." 
We are so quick to shy away from complementing OURSELVES that it's hard for many people to accept a complement on something that they have truly worked hard on for fear of being judged as conceited or stuck up. So I'm challenging myself that from now on, when someone pays me a compliment, I'm going to thank them and agree with them and then pay them a genuine compliment in return. Will you join me?
What are some things you like about yourself?