This is a little something I wrote in response to Redhead Writing , a brilliant blogger whom I found last month and have enjoyed very much. She issued a request for people to write about their single takeaway for this past decade. Here's my response:
Over the last decade I've been on this journey towards self acceptance that involved several of your benchmarks, such as a divorce, the severe breakage parts on my left side (and recovery), personal fitness, traveling to Europe several times, and getting two dogs that didn't come with manuals either. Some differences: I left repressive, mean religious system, while being successful in ministry, and learned how to think/talk/act/imagine for myself. After this, I had my own Elle Woods class speaker moment at college graduation after going back to school during said divorce and graduated with honors while raising 3 kids, 2 of whom were teens. Got dream job. Got laid off from dream job and am translating skills into marketing a kick-ass design firm and social media. Fell in love with right person, for a change. Am engaged.
My SINGLE nugget of goodness from this decade, however, comes from a culmination of these events that will hopefully propel me into a breakaway new year and decade. I learned how to shut up that nasty, critical voice that plagues every creative person. That collective voice of teachers, parents, religious leaders, and everybody else who ever criticized out of insecurity instead of giving kind, honest, and helpful feedback. In so doing, I learned how to love myself and others better. Who knows what kind of ass-kicking goodness I can do with that in place?
Happy New Year!!
Thanks for being that f-bomb dropping, self-aware Redhead, Erika. I just discovered your blog last month, (Stop Dry Humping Life) and appreciated your point very much.
Over the last decade I've been on this journey towards self acceptance that involved several of your benchmarks, such as a divorce, the severe breakage parts on my left side (and recovery), personal fitness, traveling to Europe several times, and getting two dogs that didn't come with manuals either. Some differences: I left repressive, mean religious system, while being successful in ministry, and learned how to think/talk/act/imagine for myself. After this, I had my own Elle Woods class speaker moment at college graduation after going back to school during said divorce and graduated with honors while raising 3 kids, 2 of whom were teens. Got dream job. Got laid off from dream job and am translating skills into marketing a kick-ass design firm and social media. Fell in love with right person, for a change. Am engaged.
My SINGLE nugget of goodness from this decade, however, comes from a culmination of these events that will hopefully propel me into a breakaway new year and decade. I learned how to shut up that nasty, critical voice that plagues every creative person. That collective voice of teachers, parents, religious leaders, and everybody else who ever criticized out of insecurity instead of giving kind, honest, and helpful feedback. In so doing, I learned how to love myself and others better. Who knows what kind of ass-kicking goodness I can do with that in place?
Happy New Year!!
