It isn't always easy to smile when things get tough and keep that positive ball of fire burning every single day. As a business owner, mother and trailblazer of sorts, keeping up the image of success can sometimes take more work than actually being successful! At times you can feel as if your perpetrating a fraud. Well, millions of women battle depression, self esteem trauma and lose their courage every single day. These are the same human beings that we just expect will to continue to be our heroines and inspire us to greatness. So what happens when they reveal themselves and show us what they're really made of?
I've been watching the new OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) programs lately. I love the "behind the scenes" episodes for her 25th season and the personal Master Series that just opens up the souls of those people we love. I especially like the new 6-part series show about Shania Twain's battle with self esteem. Grammy award winner Shania has been recognized as a country singing force to be reckoned with, yet somehow she doesn't believe the hype about herself. This mini-series exposes the emotional wiring of a woman who is paralyzed at the thought of getting back on stage. She's lost the courage to sing. Somehow, those stinkin' unproductive thoughts we've all heard, found a tiny hole and seeped into her soul. You know those thoughts I'm talking about..."no ones gonna take you seriously".... "you don't deserve to have that".... "why bother"...."it's too much work to that"....and on and on. Gosh, haven't we all let those nagging, nasty, worthless thoughts keep us from doing all the things we always wanted to do? But how refreshing it is to know that really big stars like Shania are not always of the "super-human" species. In the end, we know that "getting naked" is part of the healing process. Watch the program and stop feeling sorry for yourself. Company's coming!
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A few days ago I received a couple of Mother's Day cards. Yes, cards. Not emails or text messages like I sent out. I started to think about the time it took to pick out those cards (which seemed especially appropriate for me), jot a little sentiment, stick it in an envelope and get it to the Post Office. The sender could have been doing a million other things at that time, but instead took the time to send ME a Mother's Day wish.
The handwritten note is what got the tears to start leaking from my eyes.....I heard the senders voice in each penned word. And it was just for me! With the "at-your-fingertips", quick, down and dirty methods for communicating, we've somehow lost the fine art of writing. Because I can easily tap on my computer or pick up my smart phone, my penmanship looks like a 3 year old pretending that he's writing script. You know what I mean. It just seems so much easier to bang it out on some keyboard, doesn't it? Well, I'm turning a new leaf, folks. Today, I'm committing to send at least 1 hand-written card per month to someone I care about or have been thinking about. I've come upon the perfect little cards to get the party started. Cards by Catnip is a company that's keeping the art of writing in our hearts. They make simple, hand-painted water colored cards for all occasions on rich, memorable card stock. The artist lives in Northern Virginia and has been painting for fun for quite some time. This year, she decided to put her "they aren't going to love it" fears aside and sell her cards at an industry trade show. Everyone who made a purchase, was delighted to get back into sending cards vs. emails vs. nothing. By the way...Cards By Catnip nearly sold out of everything in 1 1/2 days. Two lessons:
I don't care what some experts say, I need a little sunshine every now and then (mostly now). The sun is the best source of Vitamin D and if we don't get enough, depression can set in and bones can become brittle before their time. Even Dr. Oz says that we should enjoy the suns rays as much as we can. Just don't get crazy about it.
For most folks, including myself, the sun adds a healthier glow to my skin, evens out skin tones and helps me to maintain a "sunny disposition". If that big ole ball of fire will keep a smile on my face and depression away...where's the beach blanket? In fact, I think I'll start recommending a bit of daily sunshine to some of my crankier friends. When the clouds roll in, I've got ample substitutes for the Vitamin D doldrums: plenty of fish-oysters, salmon, crabs, butter, milk, eggs and portobello mushrooms. There are no fruits or vegetables (expect the portobello mushrooms) that contain Vitamin D. So, guess you'll just have to get out and enjoy the rays! Ok, so I admit that I'm totally hooked on reality TV. Can't remember the last time I actually watched a sitcom or made-for-TV movie. I even abandoned my best friend... I Love Lucy!
I, like millions of other women prefer to peek into the living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens of folks who probably have as much talent as I do (not sure how complimentary that is). Boob tube escapism has taken on a whole new meaning. Yes, I want to see what they're wearing, which restaurant they're in (have I ever eaten there before?) and how much hotter their drama is compared to mine. What I can't tolerate, however, is really nasty drama. You know the kind of indignant, disrespectful stuff that just makes you sick and feeling sorry for the poor spotlight drama queen. Case in point: NeNe Leakes, formerly of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, now on Celebrity Apprentice. Every episode has been centered around her...the constant serrated daggers she's plunged into the backs of Star Jones, Latoya Jackson, Dionne Warwick and all the rest. The venomous energy she uses to stink up every task they're given by "The Don". Hey... who told her she was "in the running towards being the next top model"? Give me a break! And what about the controversial Bad Girls show or the MTV program about young teenage girls having babies of their own. Or the big-haired Jersey Shore show? Each one of these programming segments represents the stark reality about us, what we enjoy and what we're willing to tolerate. I believe they reveal how out-of-control and self centered we've become as people. Blown out hissyfits and multiple 4-letter have now become the standard means of communication. And we approve, because we watch. Ratings for these reality shows are through the roof. And we keep watching. Gee, what does this say about our alleged commitment to being better people...to recreating character, culture and self worth? To encouraging our neighbors to "have a heart". To teaching our children (and the village children) to respect their own lives as well as others. Bad girls, bad boys...whatcha gonna do? By the way... Donald Trump fired Hope last night. Just though you should know. |
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