Life Is Crafted

I used to think the 🤫 gesture meant ‘Hello!’ because that’s how my (loving but unaware) father would greet me every time I saw him during the day.

He worked in 5 star hotels around the world and we often lived in them as our home.

Logically I understand that you don’t want to see the daughter of the General Manager running and screaming in the lobby.

But toddler Arienne built a belief that she wasn’t allowed to express her feelings or needs. The needs of others were always much more important than hers. She had to shrink and dim herself to be acceptable to others 🥺 Hmmm, I wonder if it caused any of the issues I’ve had to deal with as an adult?!????

So…

For those of us who shrink.
Who sacrifice parts of ourselves to make others comfortable.
Who believe we are too much.
Or believe we are not enough.

Your wants. Your needs. Your personality. Your laugh. Your tears. Your thoughts. Your feelings. Your fears. Your shame. Your flaws. Your strengths. Your values. Your successes. Your ideas. Your opinions. Your body. Your style. Your presence. Your belonging. Your expression…

YOU - Your whole unique self - is allowed to take up space in this world.

This is a major lesson I’ve been learning over and over and over again. And I’m still learning and having many opportunities to exercise this muscle after a lifetime of playing ‘safe’ and small.

Little Arienne, you are allowed to be here, just as much as everyone else. You are so important. You are actually allowed to have your needs and wants expressed and met. You don’t need to be perfect and change who you are to make others comfortable. It is safe to be yourself. Not everyone will like you. That is life. YOU have to like you. You are with yourself every moment of every day. So, without doing harm to others, listen to yourself first.

If any of this resonates put a 🫵🏼 below ❤️❤️❤️

The Playbook for 2022 is coming early December!

I'm keeping it simple (the new philosophy I'm trying on for all of life!) and doing PDF calendar layouts again for 2022. If you have a specific design or layout you'd like, please let me know and I'll make it happen. Feel free to DM me or message below!

To the growing and the building.

One thing I’m learning is to slow down. So much growth comes from BEING. The most productive DOING comes after.