A couple of about 30 some years of age physically yet mentally younger, came into my place of work.
The woman was wearing a bright purple shirt with big flowers all over it, a purple bracelet that closely resembled a child's fancy, fabric hair tie, purple Crocs and purple socks, a purple necklace, and a purple flowing, veil-like headdress.
As they were leaving and I walked them to the door and thanked them for coming, she turned to me and said with an infectious, child-like enthusiasm and smile, "Stay pretty! Stay pretty with your pretty necklace and your pretty hair!"
Coming from someone else this may have seemed so superficial, so worldly and shallow.
It could have even been viewed as a sarcastic mockery (since I wasn't necessarily sporting either).
Yet it was anything but.
In all the sincerity of her heart she was wishing me well, heaping happiness and good fortune upon me.
Wholeheartedly admonishing me and reminding me to embrace and enjoy loving life!
To stay pretty.
And although her words addressed tangible elements, the real unadulterated message from her was much deeper.
It was her speaking "Stay Pretty" to my heart.
To stay pretty from the inside out, so much so that it would be evident by the energetic, spirit filled glow that would radiate around me.
Something she had obviously learned to do and by her pure example was living as part of her daily life.
I vow to try to not disappoint and to do my best to "stay pretty"!
"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart." ~Kahlil Gibran
"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
July 27, 2013
July 16, 2013
They Call Me Stupid
Labels.
Who determines who the expert label-er is?
Ugly, selfish, unlovable, fat, slow.
Well, I was stamped with the "stupid" sticker/label.
Remember in middle school where unbeknownst to the recipient it was taped to their back?
Well, adults are a little more mature-they just say it behind your back.
So guess what I did?
Well, at first, I just told myself that of course I wasn't a stupid person.
But somehow the outside words were stronger and louder, taunting and questioning my reassuring inside words.
I then reasoned that maybe logic would help so I looked up the definition because dictionaries don't lie right?
But guess what?
The definition could of described the situation I was in and therefore I could word-wise quantify for my new label.
So I then became more determined to prove that I wasn't stupid, recalling any kind of evidence I could conjure up to substantiate my internal claim.
That yes I was a person with some extent of educational or at least knowledgeable value.
In desperation, I thought of a time where I had spoken on the spot, unprepared in the company of many prestigious people, both in the local community and on the national level.
And how I had gotten complimented for my words after.
I pulled out the DVD of the event to re-watch myself all the while being the only one that was so thirsty for validation that I was taking detailed mental notes.
But for what?
What was I going to do? Set up my computer at work and say, "Hey everyone, come see what an influential speaker (another label) I am?"!
It was then I realized how ridiculous I was being.
Even if I had all the proof I could compile from the "intelligent" moments in my life, what did it matter?
Who really was I trying to impress, to convince?
It was then I comprehended how futile it was.
All that mattered is what I believed about myself.
I know better.
I know that people believe what they want to believe even if there is evidence to the contrary, so why did I allow myself to be jolted so far off course?
I will have labels plastered to me the rest of my life.
And the chances of acquiring even more new material as I show signs of aging are likely to be many.
So when am I going to stop worrying about others opinions of myself and consider the self-imposed ones?
Do I like who I am?
Do I like what I see?
Do I like who I am becoming?
Do I like my company?
Because really I am all that matters.
We are the only labelers in our lives whom we should be concerned with.
And even sometimes we need a label check-up because if our self evaluation is low we may need a tune up as our own labels may be askew.
"Labels are for filing. Labels are for clothing. Labels are not for people." ~Martina Navratilova
Who determines who the expert label-er is?
Ugly, selfish, unlovable, fat, slow.
Well, I was stamped with the "stupid" sticker/label.
Remember in middle school where unbeknownst to the recipient it was taped to their back?
Well, adults are a little more mature-they just say it behind your back.
So guess what I did?
Well, at first, I just told myself that of course I wasn't a stupid person.
But somehow the outside words were stronger and louder, taunting and questioning my reassuring inside words.
I then reasoned that maybe logic would help so I looked up the definition because dictionaries don't lie right?
But guess what?
The definition could of described the situation I was in and therefore I could word-wise quantify for my new label.
So I then became more determined to prove that I wasn't stupid, recalling any kind of evidence I could conjure up to substantiate my internal claim.
That yes I was a person with some extent of educational or at least knowledgeable value.
In desperation, I thought of a time where I had spoken on the spot, unprepared in the company of many prestigious people, both in the local community and on the national level.
And how I had gotten complimented for my words after.
I pulled out the DVD of the event to re-watch myself all the while being the only one that was so thirsty for validation that I was taking detailed mental notes.
But for what?
What was I going to do? Set up my computer at work and say, "Hey everyone, come see what an influential speaker (another label) I am?"!
It was then I realized how ridiculous I was being.
Even if I had all the proof I could compile from the "intelligent" moments in my life, what did it matter?
Who really was I trying to impress, to convince?
It was then I comprehended how futile it was.
All that mattered is what I believed about myself.
I know better.
I know that people believe what they want to believe even if there is evidence to the contrary, so why did I allow myself to be jolted so far off course?
I will have labels plastered to me the rest of my life.
And the chances of acquiring even more new material as I show signs of aging are likely to be many.
So when am I going to stop worrying about others opinions of myself and consider the self-imposed ones?
Do I like who I am?
Do I like what I see?
Do I like who I am becoming?
Do I like my company?
Because really I am all that matters.
We are the only labelers in our lives whom we should be concerned with.
And even sometimes we need a label check-up because if our self evaluation is low we may need a tune up as our own labels may be askew.
"Labels are for filing. Labels are for clothing. Labels are not for people." ~Martina Navratilova
July 4, 2013
Graduation
Graduation became an important subject for my little friend as she finished school in the 4 year old class and left her last day knowing she would come back a Kindergartener.
She said, "You just think I'm a little girl, but I'm GRADUATING!"
When I asked her what graduation was she replied, "You know how you get caps and you throw them up in the air - that's graduation."
"And it means getting a new car."
Evidently none of my children have graduated after all....
She said, "You just think I'm a little girl, but I'm GRADUATING!"
When I asked her what graduation was she replied, "You know how you get caps and you throw them up in the air - that's graduation."
"And it means getting a new car."
Evidently none of my children have graduated after all....
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