Happy Monday, Everyone!
You made it! I made it!
You may think that by the title, that this edition is about my daughter’s birthday…
You would be wrong.
We did celebrate Sophia this last week and weekend, but that’s not the reason for the title. There were cupcakes, soccer games, wins and losses, family time and family running all over the place. I remember when she about 3, this little girl got funny. Like, legitimately funny. Not little baby funny…but had this momma in tears laughing hysterically through HEB (God bless Texas, just google it). I can’t tell you how much I adore what makes up who Sophia is and what she loves. It’s the most fun combination of girl. She got a gift card and wanted shoes and shin guards. She played soccer this weekend and then gushed over pretty summer dresses. I LOVE IT!
I’m going somewhere with this…
Her friend Danica (daughter of @ridiculouskatie…who you should follow on all the things), is the total opposite. Danica does hiphop and is really good. Also, you can yell and cheer for hiphop like you can a soccer game so I am all for it. Sophia has cleats, D does not. D can dance, Sophia will try along with her friend.
These two girls have been friends for most of their lives. They are different and I have watched them celebrate each other. Sophia has gone to see D perform, and is greeted by Danica with a big hug and “I have to introduce you to everyone”. Another mom looked at me knowing we were watching something special.
They celebrate each other.
Ladies, let’s let these girls show us a thing or two. They don’t know they are supposed to size up and compare. They don’t know that there differences are supposed to make them look at each other and talk down at their differences.
They don’t know because they haven’t seen it and my God, it will NOT be me that shows them.
I saw this meme on the internet.
I hate it. Like, I really hate it. Is it funny? Maybe a little bit. Then, I get to thinking about it for a whole 2 seconds and I call it a picture of what is actually a really huge problem.
We live in world where we can preach that we don’t judge…until someone has greener grass. You can literally put anything in place of “greener grass”. When someone is doing something really well, we don’t celebrate, we judge. We assume that that grass is fake or there is something/someway/somehow artificial about it.
Then we wonder why women get a bad wrap. It’s because we can be the worst towards each other. A few thoughts…
- If it’s fake, who cares? Why are you spending so much time dwelling on it? Someone else’s strength doesn’t take away from you. And if they are fake they are probably miserable and need some good and healthy reality in their life. Come on, somebody
- Maybe…just MAYBE she makes that grass a priority. Sometimes, people have really clean houses because they clean it. Or, they have a clean house because someone else does. Maybe ask how, instead of judging…
- No one has it all together. They never did. It’s the illusion that has caused comparison, anxiety, depression, angry families and mean women.
Can we all agree to stop it?!
I have friends that are total rock stars and all at different areas of life. We celebrate each others strengths and thank God for the differences because we need them! We celebrate the different seasons and acknowledge the challenges brought on by change. We don’t have time to judge someone for their strengths if we are celebrating them.
I realize surrounded by girls linking arms after a soccer game loss and Sophia with her friends on a Sunday morning… there are a lot of eyes watching and we have an incredible opportunity to show them the way.
Not only that, we are better for it! Let’s celebrate!