First Step

Today I opened up a book I have been attempting to read for a while. And as I started reading it, it became harder and harder to continue past the first few sentences. It is strange, because this always happens to me. The beginning of a book is always the hardest to get through. Once I am invested in the book, and it isn't as much of a blind journey, I can't put it down.

Isn't that SO life?

For me, every first step is the hardest one. And every "pre" step (per say) is even harder, because I psych myself out even more than I had the minute before. 

Changing a job...

Getting out of bed...

Getting in a cold car...

Speaking up...

Moving...

I think we can all agree that the first step of something is always the hardest one to accomplish. 

The first commitment. The first word out of your mouth when saying something important. The first note when you're singing. The first kiss. The first date. 

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SOMETHING I AM ALL ABOUT:

taking the first step

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None of the amazing things in our lives have been easy every step of the way.

But without the hard steps we never would have stumbled upon the good ones.

Take the first step.

The second, third, and fourth won't feel so hard.

Just think... at one point you didn't even know how to walk.

XX XY

So here is a little thought that roams around in my head.

The difference between men and women is this:

XX and XY

The rest is a bunch of horse (you know what) that we have simply made up.

And that seems sort of confusing, because obviously men and women operate a little differently. Our bodies are different, our minds are different... but that comes with the XX and XY thing I referred to before. But when it comes to "what it means to be a man" and "what it means to be a woman" that shouldn't have to be so different. 

I shouldn't be expected to dress pretty, get emotional, love chocolate, and make food. 

You shouldn't have to be expected to be tough, get in fights, spit, and watch football.

It just so happens that I tend to fall under some of those stereotypes. And maybe you do, too. But I also love Lord of the Rings, and I used to wear my boy cousin hand-me-downs until about the age of six. This idea of the Battle of the Sexes has really messed us up. 

I have talked about before how I used to tell my mom to lie about my gender so that I could get the Happy Meal toy that I actually wanted. Because if she said I was a girl, dammit I was getting a Barbie. I didn't want that. I wanted the Gadget toy that spun around. Why couldn't they just ask me which toy I wanted? Well, because all girls like Barbies.

 ...and to that I will quote the Grinch when saying WRONG-O.

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SOMETHING I AM ALL ABOUT:

be whatever the hell you would like to be

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I don't care about your biological makeup. 

I also don't care if you like to wear makeup.

I care about what you like.

Just do that.

Dark Hair, Totally Care

What up, babes? How is your raining day today? Mine is so good. I am eating pizza, drinking a London Fog, and watching Friends. Like HI HI couldn't be better. I also have homework I am pushing off, which is lingering in my mind, so that is not ideal. Hello my name is Alison, and I procrastinate. That's for another time...

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SOMETHING I AM ALL ABOUT:

changing your hair

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So, I just got my hair done by the wonderful Russanne Sasser (http://russannekathleen.blogspot.com) last week, and I am in love. She's been doing my hair for quite sometime, and I always love it. But this time it changed me. It made me feel like a badass. I wanted to wear a leather jacket and Rebel from Mac. It is dark and fun. I am all about changing your hair. One reason for this is because it can make you feel beautiful, which you are. I believe in treating yourself and doing things to make you feel confident and worth all the best things in the world. Take appearance risks. Put on the bright lipsticks and wear heels with skinny jeans. Do what ever feels right today. 

Because daaaaamn, you're a dime.

“Love yourself, even a little bit each day, and your life will bloom into infinite joy.” 

Be Jubilant People

On this brisk October day, I am under the weather. Runny nose, cough, sneeze, you name it. This week my sneezes have been coming in 5's. With little to no time in between each. This confuses my body. It sends me into a state of uncontrolled spasms where I can't open my eyes, I have lost the knowledge of my location, and I am unable to stand upright. 

It's weird. 

Anyhoo... I have decided I am going to start adding "something I am all about" in each blog post. Because I want to share mine, and hopefully hear yours. Lately, I have been really focusing on little things that improve my way of life. They can be real little. I'm talking' tiny. But I am really over ignoring my needs as a person, and things that will improve my overall attitude. 

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SOMETHING I AM ALL ABOUT:

doing things that make you happy

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Okay, so this first one is really broad, but it is also one of my very clear truths. I think I am often filling my day with a million things that I don't really want to do. I say yes to everyone who asks me to go do something. I double book myself. Triple book myself. And it's not that I don't want to go see these people, but sometimes... it is. Overtime I have learned that friendship shouldn't be so hard. Yes, any relationship requires work and effort from both sides. But spending time around someone shouldn't feel difficult. This realization has made me start to value my 'easy' friendships. And again, this doesn't mean it doesn't require work of some kind. It means that loving this person is easy. Seeing them is easy. Sitting with them is easy. Silence with them is easy. My sister once said to me that she believed the sign of a good friendship is when you can sit in silence with them, comfortably. I think this is so true. And I don't think into our adulthood that we should have to do anything less.

   This seems harsh as I read it back to myself. And maybe this sort of is. But I think I have just reached a point where I find it acceptable to say that it is okay to not do the things that we don't want to do. If you don't feel like today you can muster up the energy to have one more surface conversation with the same person you have done that with before, then by all means, don't.

I want to clearly say, however, that meeting new people and giving everyone a chance is something I believe in with all my heart. But once you have done that, we need to be okay with accepting that we just simply won't mesh well with everyone. And it is better to do that than try to continuously force a relationship and leave feeling emptier than when you got there. Do not do things that empty you. Just don't do them. Yes, it is sometimes super hard to distinguish between the things that will empty you in the long run and the things that just suck for right now. For instance, working out sucks while you're doing it. Like really bad. With every step I try to come up with a good reason why I am doing this. But without fail, when I am done I have been filled a little bit more. And you know what, if I reach a day where I leave feeling empty, I will stop.

What I hope for you and for myself is that we can be people who can find the things that make us happy, and discard the things that don't. Don't underestimate the importance of being happy, and don't overestimate the effort towards trying to change the things we can't. 

Be jubilant people.

P.S. I want to hear what little things you do to make you happy. I'm open to all ideas.