Don’t Hide. Celebrate!
I have tan, long legs with defined calves. I get them from my petite Japanese mother and tree-trunk-sturdy-calved Caucasian father. When I wear heels or workout shorts, my legs become a statement piece. So I don’t wear dresses with heels unless the occasion is incredibly appropriate. I hide my legs not because I think they’re ugly but because they’re different and draw attention. I have come to terms with the fact that they are actually quite beautiful – it’s true.
We either flaunt or hide ourselves. So narrow is the “safe” space of-just-in-between where our gifts can be out there enough to be somewhat expressed but not enough to be threatening. We do this, as women. I do this.
Like I hide my legs, at times I hide my life. I hide parts of the inner-whatever-it-is that people describe as warm, radiant, and room-changing.
I look back and see that it’s been almost three months since I last wrote – three months!! This time span has been packed full of some of the juiciest morsels of life – great friends, celebrations, falling in love, following a dream, and getting ready to launch a non-profit I believe in wholeheartedly. You could say that all of this choosing love from moment to moment for the last three years and then some has started to flow, and you know what…it works!
I have graduated from a life-changing Masters program as a business honors student (yes, way!), I spoke in schools from Texas to Tahoe, I have watched an incredible team of passionate women form to lead the launch of Heart of Leadership, and we spent a 14 hour day with an all-star crew and 10 bold and beautiful teen girls filming our launch video. I have enjoyed the blossoming of love in a relationship where trust, honor, friendship, and adventure flower generously.
And I haven’t written. In part, I have been in the flow of love and life without much time to reflect. Yet, I have started blogs that simply were an opportunity to celebrate and stopped myself.
We remember the girls in school who bragged and don’t want to be them. We don’t want to brag or be bossy because we are supposed to be pleasing, non-threatening, and sweet. Enough with the madness. Stand out and be yourself; and celebrate if you want to.
Why shouldn’t people share what’s great about them? Everyone has their “awesome,” and it’s up to each of us to find out what ours is and then bring it to the world through service.
A few years ago, my “awesome” became the simple statement: I Choose Love. Call it whatever you want – I call it the road map to a life worth living well.
Here’s to giving all you got! Now, about rockin’ those calves…
Stephanie
How can you celebrate today?? Share in the comments below!
The 3-month highlight reel:
So happy for you, Stephanie! Just came across this blog post and it made my day! You rock it, girlfriend 🙂
Likewise, Jen! Great to hear from you. See you in a couple days. 🙂