Shining our Stories

Last night, I was part of a gathering of women.  Brene Brown’s “Hustle for Worthiness” video was the launchpad for our evening and I want to share some of the ideas that are caught in my heart today…

–Perfectionism is at the root of cleaning my house for seven solid hours yesterday, it’s at the heart of the arguments that erupt between a couple over arriving a little late, it’s in the guilt we feel over the words “maybe just one – I’ll diet tomorrow,”  it’s in every bottle of hair color, every A+, every “try harder” we ever attempt.  It’s not a bad thing, necessarily, but it’s good to recognize it for what it is and to know when to say – enough.

–Owning who we are takes the wind out of the sails of anybody who might be inclined to speculate about us behind our backs.  And that sort of takes the wind out of the sails of secrecy.

–Saying “not so hot” when asked how we feel is a perfectly good answer, but you have to be prepared for the consequences – some people just aren’t comfortable with the truth.  And the people who can handle the truth may be able to offer you a soft place to land.

–Sometimes saying nothing is exactly what you need to do – sometimes it’s just about creating a space for a loved one to talk, or vent, or cry.

–A moment of discomfort is better than days (or weeks or years) of resentment – saying “no” to things that don’t serve me or aren’t working anymore is courageous and good, no matter what  judgments people might make.

–People probably think alot less about how I act or what I look like than I suspect because they are likely too busy worrying about what I might think about how they act or look.

This whole idea about gathering was born from Brene’s video.  She talks at the end about finding a group of people to share your story with, so I thought about the women I feel safest with and I invited them to come and watch the video with me, then we had dinner and talked and laughed and listened and shared our stories and shined the most brilliant light.

“People are like stained-glass windows.  They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”
~Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

At the end of the evening, I shared a copy of Brene’s book with each of the ladies who came and I had two left over that I’d just love to share with you.  Just leave me a comment or send me an email and I’ll send them to the first two I receive.

blessings,
Kelley