I have never been a big reader, in fact, I really dislike reading in all honesty. It’s not something that I choose to do. When I have all my ducks in a row (which let’s be real, my ducks are every which way most of the time) I don’t eagerly say to myself, “yay, I can read a book!” I’m just not wired that way.
My husband, on the other hand, is a book lover. He has always encouraged me to read books. He always says, “you don’t like books because the books you’ve read are not engaging and fun for you, so they don’t peak your interest at all.” He is one-hundred percent right. I would pick up a book, get a few pages into it, and never pick it up again.
In this last year, my husband has recommended a few books, and I’ve actually found most of them to be quite enjoyable. About a month ago, for the first time in years, I actually finished a book! (In case you’re wondering, it was Magnolia Story by Joanna Gaines!) Since then, I’ve continued to look for different books that would interest me.
I recently stumbled upon Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollins. So far I’m only about ten percent into the book, but I can’t wait to keep reading. Even as I write this, I can’t believe I’m saying (or typing) these words! I’m planning to write a full post about my thoughts on this book when I finish, but for now I’ll just say that I’ve been super encouraged by this book. The author writes about all of her flaws and how she is human, just like each and every one of us.
There’s one chapter in particular that blew me away, because I wrote about this same topic in my last post. The author talks about how our words have power, and coaches us to recognize that “all words have power—even the ones whispered behind someone’s back”. This, she says, is how we begin to adjust our behavior towards ourselves and others.
I need to work on adjusting my behavior and bettering who I was yesterday. Yesterday for me looked like a hot-mess mom who was short with her son, trying to get things done and not paying enough attention to those who are most important to me. I missed the mark, but today is a new day.
This week has been an emotional rollercoaster for me. Yes, part of it is hormonal (it really is never fun) but the other part of it is just life stuff (that I will get into in another blog post some day).
I had been having a rough morning. My hair was thrown into a bun (I probably wouldn’t even call that thing a bun but that’s what it was supposed to be). My makeup was all over because I had been crying, and I was that person who wears sunglasses when it isn’t sunny so I could hide my puffy eyes.
I was sitting in the Starbucks drive-thru because, well, I am human and a mom so I need my caffeine. When I drove up to get my caffeine fix, the women said hello and told me the price of my coffee. I wasn’t really even paying attention because I typically just hand them my card (those things are dangerous) and get my much needed coffee.
Before I handed her my card, without really even thinking of what I was saying, the words “you’re beautiful” came out of my mouth. I fully meant it too. Her face lit up and she said, “Awe, thank you! Same to you!” I said, “ha, thanks you’re sweet.”
In moments like that I usually compare myself to others. I mean in every way: their hair, makeup, clothes, body shape, everything. I know I can’t be the only one, or maybe I am just weird. In Girl, Wash Your Face, Rachel writes, “comparison is the death of joy, and the only person you need to be better than is the one you were yesterday.” This could not be more true, and yet I fail constantly. I want to be someone who lifts people up. I want it to be innate, like how our brain knows to tell our lungs to fill up with oxygen so we can stay alive.
That barista had a smile on her face and a pep in her step and I am so happy that I could make her smile, even if it was just for a moment. She had no idea what I had gone through that morning, and she didn’t need to, but her kindness spread and it uplifted me. It changed my mood for the rest of the day, who knew uplifting someone else could bring you so much joy!
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