How Complimentary Of Myself!

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I couldn't wait to get out of high school.

In fact, my senior English teacher gave out "AKA Awards" that read into our personalities & without missing a beat, my award was titled "Please Get Me Out Of Here". Maybe high school is easy for some but I wasn't a fan of the drama. It's safe to say that the adage "Girl Power" only applies if you're in the club so I found it easier to eat lunch with my photography teacher (back before this was practically illegal!) than to attempt to break the "bitchy barrier".

I think women are so hard on other women because there's a projection of comparison. I swear, women look women up & down more often than men do. How else are we going to see how we compare? It's unhealthy, this we know. Luckily, I've come a long way in the confidence department. More often than not I find myself genuinely complimenting other women (in my head or aloud) than being jealous.

Remember that you are doing just fine with what you're bringing to the table... so don't be looking to rain on someone else's parade just to give yourself a better forecast! Perhaps you're too busy assessing others that you can't find the time to give yourself a pat on the back? And that's what we're going to do today!

Like going into a job interview, we're going to talk ourselves up in the most complimentary of fashions! If you're awesome instead of being an asshat, if you smile at strangers, if you don't deceive people...you're way ahead of the curve, so no need to look to the girl sitting next to you for better answers because you're getting a passing grade all on your own!

Here's how I'm awesome...



I still send good old fashioned mail to people. Just because.

I brake for birds. I've also, with my mom's help, saved a baby bunny from a storm drain.

(Sidebar: One morning while driving to work years ago, I noticed a grasshopper desperately clinging to my windshield wiper with a look that said "Pleeeeeeeeaase slow down, I'm losing my grip!) As I looked at him & (no joke) shouted "Hang On!!!", I got to the lowest speed I safely could on the road while looking for the nearest place to park in order to free him of his life-or-death grip.)

I always look behind me to see if I can hold the door open for someone.

I love my body more now than I once did. Sure my thighs touch a bit & my "ladies" could be a bit more shall we say "elevated" but I also have prominent collar bones & an hourglass shape that I adore.

I know how to cook. And bake. I know it's not often a packaged deal so I feel blessed. (Exception: I can't seem to make pancakes. They're my Kobayashi Maru.)

I bake for my neighbors. Unfortunately, in this cynical day & age, they look at me like I have three heads for being so generous but whatever. Enjoy those cookies!

Even though I'd much rather cuddle up with a blanket & a good book, I volunteer to go out just to be the designated driver. Big shot of water for this gal right here, Mr. Bartender!!

(Sidebar: I lost count of how many times I've been in the middle of a night out, or a group dinner, or what have you & thought "I would kill to be at home buried in Chapter 3 of my book right now". The night scene really isn't my thing. I want to stand in line waiting around for a bouncer to deem me worthy enough to get into the club about as much as I'm thrilled to make an appointment with the lady doctor. No thanks.)

I like to volunteer at soup kitchens. Mr. A & I once spent a day cleaning a school for homeless & at-risk youth because they had to let their janitors go for financial reasons.

I've been battling an injury that's kept me out of work & at home for over two years but I keep on keeping on. Big thank you to my wonderful support team co-chaired by Mr. A & my mama!!

I'm game for ordering the chicken wing sampler & watching back to back basketball games.

I paid it forward & threw a surprise party for my friend Anne after my mom threw one for my 21st birthday. (My mom is rad. I know this.)

Now tell yourself why you're awesome & as a bonus, you might start noticing how other women are awesome too!



Don't forget to have a great day on purpose! ("Comparison is the thief of joy."-Theodore Roosevelt)