Ever since I learned of International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19th), I’ve wanted to create a holiday that felt as fun. Sitting in meditation one day, the idea came to me: what if we all collectively gave up on being any different than we are, just for 24 hours? What a perfect holiday for me to create! After all, I’m the perfect paradox: my mission in life is to help people feel how perfectly okay they are and I constantly struggle with evaluating myself for everything I’m not doing or didn’t do right.

So, why do we need a Freedom from Self-Improvement Day?

• Because if self-improvement worked, we’d all be self- levitating, multi-lingual, size-zero billionaires by now.

• Because there is no “secret.”

• Because it’s time to challenge the belief that if we “could only” change our partner, our thigh size, our job or if we could only meditate more deeply or express ourselves more creatively then — and only then — we’d finally grasp that gold ring called “Happiness” or “Peace” or “Enlightenment.”

• Because we’re exhausted from following the latest trend (eat like a caveman/positive visualization/negative- ionics/harmonic wealth, whatever).

• Because we’re tired of “shoulding” all over ourselves (and everyone else, too).

• Because we know, deep down inside, that we already have everything we need right now, exactly as we are, and that accepting ourselves moment by moment, over and over again, is the fastest, cheapest and actually only way to ever be truly at peace, happy, and content — and FYI, to actually change anything about ourselves (no guarantees when it comes to others; they may remain annoying and obtuse).

~ Jennifer Louden, International Freedom from Self-Improvement Day creator

Check out Jennifer’s offerings at her sites: http://www.jenniferlouden.com http://www.thelifeorganizer.com http://www.freedomfromselfimprovement.com