Thursday, March 24, 2016

Let's Be Encouraging

Let me preface this post by saying that I TOTALLY understand everyone is hardwired differently. I will state, for the record and from the get-go, that being a cheerleader to those around me and encouraging others comes easily for me.

With that being said, I do NOT want you to read this post and think I'm saying everyone needs to conform and be like me because my way is the best or only way (although, don't tell the hubby I admitted that ;)), because that is NOT the case!

Alrighty, now that we got that out of the way, let's get into the meat and potatoes of this post.

I wanted to take a couple seconds to spur you to be encouraging to those around you (whether friend, family or foe). Now, I know that it might be outside of your comfort zone to give verbal shout outs to those around you, but head nods and eye contact works just as well. And if that is too much to ask, remember the lesson we learned from Thumper: IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL!

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I don't know if I am just extra sensitive to it right now or if it is happening more and more frequently, but it sure seems like people are tearing each other down constantly lately... I swear, I see it everywhere I look, whether it is on social media or in conversations at the grocery store. {And just because you don't think the person can hear you doesn't make it any less painful or less wrong... If it's not positive, my suggestion is to not even let the words come out of your mouth.}

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I had something happen on Sunday and have been thinking about it ever since it occurred. After my workout, I was heading to my car to drive home. I street park near the beach, so I was waiting near my car door as vehicles and bicycles were going by me. A girl hanging out a van window yelled, "Smile, because that is NOT a cute face ma'am.".

First off, if you know me, you know I am often SMILEY! I don't know if I was in a daze staring at the traffic or if I had a bit of a RBF, but whatever the case may be, why did this girl find the need to not only yell at me, but to try and belittle me?

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If she was truly interested in making people smile, why not yell "Happy Sunday", "Have a great day", "You're awesome"?!

I know, I know, you will say "It was just some snotty teenage girl, that's how 'they' are, so brush it off, ignore the comment and move on", but why do we excuse bad behavior? In fact, why don't we want to stop it in its tracks and spin that train right around? We shouldn't pardon inappropriate behavior even if it is a social norm! DON'T BUY INTO IT FOLKS!

We (especially women) are already constantly bombarded with pressures from society that we aren't good enough, aren't pretty enough, need this, that or the other thing to make us more valuable as a person... In my opinion, we definitely don't need individuals around us trying to instill those thoughts into us even more... Shoot, with my terrible self-esteem, those type of comments are whispered in my head 95% of the day, I truly do NOT need them coming from strangers going by...


Let's build one another up (in fact, the ONLY time you should be looking down on someone else is if you are helping them UP!)! It is tom foolery that we would spend even a single moment of our day putting someone else down - whether it is about their looks, their political views, their economic status, their education or their lot in life. Blowing out someone else's candle does NOT make yours shine any brighter! Just be nice, k?! And if you can't be nice, just SHUT YOUR FACE!

What is one way you are willing to encourage those around you?

3 comments:

Nicole said...

I agree. And I'm someone who will dwell on what is said to me for days or evern WEEKS after someone says something negative to me. Somethings are just better left unsaid. Just stay positive and keep being YOU! Hopefully others can try and do the same and we can make the world a better place person by person!

Tayna said...

I love this! I can't believe how mean some people can be! If we were all nice to each other, wouldn't the world be a much happier place to live in? Also, thanks for posting about this. I've found myself complaining a lot lately and this is a great reminder for me to try to be a better person. Thanks for your positive outlook on life! You are amazing!

Melissa C said...

AAAAAMMMMEEEEEENNNNN!!!!! LOVE THIS, LOVE YOUR BLOG AND I can relate because that would be so hard for me to shake off. I had a lady once tell me that a pair of pants I had on , I should never wear again cuz they make my hips look wide and if I wore cord in my skin tone my dark circles under my eyes would be less obvious!!!!! What in the world did I do to get that???? Needless to say iunfortunately it has impacted me and I'm still struggling to pick up my self esteem which was alreAdy sensitive!