on the porch...

Im sure you’ve all heard the saying: “if you can’t hang with the big dogs, then you better stay on the porch”. But let me ask you, do you really want to be the dog left on the porch? I think NOT! Why would you want to be the one to stay home, or not hang out with family or friends, due to some made up insecurity? I don’t. However, it wasn’t always that way. Many years ago, I can remember talking to a friend of mine, expressing the dislike I had, and often still have, about parts of my physical body. I was chatting about how these certain parts, often prohibit me from wearing certain kinds of clothing, and even keep me from doing certain activities, like going to the beach, for instance. I was feeling really insecure, and while I don’t remember for sure, Im pretty sure that tears rolled down my face as I expressed my insecurities to my friend. It was at that point that he looked at me and asked me….”Michelle, if a young child, let’s say your daughter Emily, said she did not want to go to the beach, with her friends, because she did not like certain parts of her body, what would you say?” My response…”that is crazy, I would NEVER, EVER want Emily to stay behind, and not go out, due to some part of her body”.  And there you have it…”if you can’t hang with the big dogs, then you better stay on the porch”…but do we want to? It was at that time that I realized by worrying or obsessing about some flaw, that I made up, I was only hurting myself. None of my true family, friends, or loved ones, really care what I look like on the outside, because they already knew the real person inside. In addition, if any person that I may have run into while out, were to judge me, who really cares?! Chances are, this person, or people, are no counts in my life, and the likelihood of me ever seeing them again is pretty darn slim. I would never, ever, ever want my child, dear friend or family member, to stay behind, so why would I want that for me? Even in the most threatening circumstances I really try and put myself out into the world. In a lot of situations I am a very shy person, however, as Ive gotten older, or grown up, I really try and force myself past the shyness, and into the world. In the end, I typically find that I am really happy that I forced myself into the world, and entered into new adventures.

Today’s activity: to stay on the porch or NOT

Today I encourage you to access your personality, and personal characteristics, and decide if you are, or ever have been the person to stay on the porch. Has there ever been a time in your life, when you’ve opted to stay home, or not participate because of personal insecurities? Are you holding onto any regrets due to insecurities? Have you stayed on the porch far too many times? If you have answered “Yes” to any or all of these questions, I invite you to get off the porch, and go out and play! Who cares what the general public may think or if anyone may or may not pass judgment on you? Why would you ever want any  person, especially a stranger, to prohibit you from diving into the many adventures of life? Im not going to lie, it may be difficult, at first, to let judgment and insecurity fall by the wayside, but the more your face your insecurities, the easier it will be. Remember we talked about baby steps? Go, do, be…conquer! xo