Listen Before You Label

Accompaniment: bit.ly/ldsdrsher

Reach both hands out in front of you, palms facing up. If you’ve ever been called “crazy” make a fist with one hand. If you’ve called someone “crazy” make a fist with the other hand. Those are two less hands you have to hold another’s, to push yourself off the ground when you’ve fallen, and worst of all, two more hands to beat yourself up and destroy relationships of any kind.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary there are three distinct definitions of “crazy.”

1. full of cracks or flaws: unsound/crooked, askew
2. mad insane, impractical: erratic, being out of the ordinary: unusual
3. distracted with desire or excitement; absurdly fond: infatuated; passionately preoccupied: obsessed.

Why have you ever called someone crazy? Certainly not to be helpful, not to show concern or interest in his or her situation. It was probably to shut down a situation, to assert your own logic or “sanity,” or to just feel right. But what does it do to the recipient of that insult? It’s a verbal slap in the face. Crazy translates to, “I don’t care how much pain you’re in, it’s disrupting my life and I can’t listen anymore.”

How do I know this? Because I’ve been on both sides. In my exhaustion, and my inability to help a loved one, I lashed out. It’s much easier to call someone “crazy” and exit the situation than to accept another person’s pain, especially your contribution to it. And, unfortunately, I’ve also felt someone weakening his or her support of my emotional well-being by using the same word to describe me.

If you break down the emotional timeline that could lead to the social labeling of someone as “crazy,” you’ll find how logical it is. A traumatic event, such as a break up, death in the family, or a simple rejection, illness, career instability, the list goes on and on. Yes, pain often finds rot in internal distress, but more often than not there’s an external factor dragging your friend down.

You know what’s the worst “condolence” to receive when suffering from any sort of pain? “There are other people in this world suffering far more than you,” that “You have no right to complain or feel bad because someone’s life is worse than yours.”

Is that what God meant for us? To bottle up our pain, keep it so close that we absorb it, until the pain becomes us? I just don’t think that’s the case. Honestly, that sounds crazy to me.

The Effort of Trusting

I’ve felt broken for a while now, so I constantly remind myself I am not broken. However, I can certainly say I’m a little chipped, bent, torn, ragged – but I’m not broken. I still find the strength to wake up every morning, go to work, socialize, etc. I’m still moving, breathing, trying. Maybe it’s the latter of those actions that reminds me I’m not broken.

I believe you truly break when you lose the effort to try – even in the least bit. Right now I’m still trying to learn, to love, to understand, and to forgive. More specifically, I’m trying to learn about, to love, to understand, and to forgive myself.  “Be kind to yourself,” I repeat in my head every morning, because if I am not, the day will surely outlast my energy.

Moreover, to love yourself is – in my opinion – the greatest human, emotional challenge. How often have we fallen out of love with someone or something because of revealed flaws – a chip in the paint or the shedding of skin? Every day we look in the mirror, we listen to ourselves (and others), and have to acknowledge our flaws – our faults and shortcomings. It’s hard to love yourself when you see every bandaged insecurity and stitched-up mistake. But the more you try the less broken you feel.

The more effort you make to accept yourself, the less you’ll care about how much others show their acceptance of you.

Self-judgment is the heaviest burden. Think about all the things you do to “make yourself feel better.” It’s a one-sided battle without a shield. You feel the jab of every judgment or disappointment. The only way I’ve been able to tame this internal quarrels is with a fortress of friends and loved ones, the people who have the ability to externally remind you of your worth.

But wait, there’s another obstacle.

You have to believe them. You have to trust their opinions and insights are genuine, that their care and interest are sincere. You might have control over when you feel lonely, but you can control when you are alone.

Recently I finally realized that if I already feel lonely, being alone is just going to exacerbate my stress. Solution? Be honest with your friends, and invite them into your life in that moment. If you lack the energy or imagination to make plans, be honest and ask them for options. Why? Even if you do breakdown in tears from the weight of your stress, at least you’ll have someone there to remind you of the positives when you can’t get past the flaws.

So when life feels heavy, you feel broken, and the negativity grows like a weed, remember to just try. Not “try” as in “try to feel better,” but try to trust in the genuine support of those who reach out to catch you when they see you falter. Simply try to trust yourself. It’s not an easy undertaking, but it’s certainly a valiant one.

Managing the Pain of Time

http://bit.ly/all2well

So let’s talk about time. How it passes, how it stops, how it hurts, how it heals, how it just exists.

Or how about time feels as it ticks along? If you’ve ever felt pain I’m sure a friend or two offered the sentiments, “In time, you’ll feel better.” If time’s relative, it’s not that time literally slows down or speeds up for certain people – I’m sure science has a better explanation – but that we all feel it differently.

I’d like to argue that how you experience time is directly related to how satisfied you are with our current predicament. The happier you are the less you concentrate on the moments, because they’re so great you just let them fly by. The more pain or frustration you feel the more you analyze the moments, and suddenly a minute feels like a day.

So could it all be about consciousness? Perhaps the more we fixate on our feelings, on our situation, the slower time passes for us.

People will tell you not to live in the past, but isn’t everything but our current breath the past? The struggle to live in the present will always be that – a struggle – because present constantly becomes past. Words don’t bounce back, shattered love doesn’t reassemble, and – as I’m sure you already know – you can’t be who you were yesterday.

My Sight on Spring: Edition 1

With D.C. weather being such a tease lately – teetering between 60 and 16 degree weather – I’ve got my sights on spring. While I love when the temperature begins to climb, it definitely requires a wardrobe adjustment. Layering takes on a new meaning in the spring. In the winter you pop on layers to keep warm, but in the spring you invest in light layers you can add or edit to deal with the temperature fluctuation. Thankfully my standby Anthropologie has abundant options to help me get through the season. And let me say, these staples are barely basic.

Cozy Cable

Standby Buttondown

Statement Chambray

Spring does not have to be the end of long sleeves. A comfortable white blouse, like this Cloth + Stone Lilith Buttondown, pairs well with any skirt of pant. I’m thinking it would go particularly well with dark wash skinny jeans and my leopard print Sperry loafers.

This Holding Horses dip-dye chambray is what I like to call a “Statement Chambray.” This comfortable trend has definitely transitioned to a denim mainstay. I appreciate this dip-dye pattern for offering both comfort and a punch of style. Tuck it into a red skirt or pop it over some white jeans and you’re ready to go. Let’s not forget about this Cozy Cableknit which is just cropped enough to let your buttondown have a style moment.

Check back next week for more spring essentials!

Wishful Wednesday

Every Wednesday I hope to reflect on my aspirations and hopes for the upcoming future. These “wishes” might be minor, such as housekeeping resolutions, or more expansive, flooding into the long term. I do envision some “bucket-list” type reminders to pop up on this list, including activities I have yet to do or places I have yet to see.

1. Decrease excess and embracing minimalism.

2. Find simple ways to exercise creativity.

3. Try new recipes (rather than making more plain pasta).

4. Clean the Keurig. Finally.

5. Get a table at Tryst and have a nice coffee-filled outing with friends.

6. Master the art of entertaining – on the cheap. Every bit older I get, the more I realize how expensive “being social” is for us young professionals. However, there’s nothing better than a simple, soiree hosted by a friend at her apartment.

Weekly Rewind

Weekly Rewind: September 28, 2014

Madewell Offers Complimentary Monogramming

Madewell is currently offering free monogramming on their full-priced leather goods (savings of $10, expires 10/20/2014). If I were to choose I’d have the Paintstripe Transport Tote monogrammed in gold foil. While brown and black are classic leather goods colors, wearing one can sometimes alienate the other. Style wise I’m not a big fan of a black bag with brown shoes and vice versa; however, a leather bag in a neutral yet unique color is a great investment. I currently sport a Coach Metro Tote in burgundy and love never having to worry if it clashes with my outfit. It holds all I need and the demure yet rich color  always gives it a pop. I am loving the olive tone of the Paintstripe Transport Tote though and can definitely see it pairing well with fall outfits.

#BannedBooksWeek: How Scandalous is Your Reading History?

I love that libraries across America celebrate Banned Books Week so I was excited to take this Buzzfeed quiz. Out of 93 of the most frequently banned books I received the following score of  35 out of 93. As an English major I find this number mildly embarrassing – time to start reading some classic banned books! I must say I’m glad that my schools never banned books, because I could have missed out on Judy Blume’s works during my adolescence or The Perks of Being a Wallflower when I was transitioning between high school and college.

How Successful People Deal with Stress

For a lot of people stress can lead to productive motivation. However, for others it can be paralyzing. I appreciate how this LinkedIn article breaks down the simple steps you can take to confront stress and absorb it’s good energy rather the bad.

1. They practice gratitude for what they have.
2. They stay positive.
3. They focus on progress, not perfection.
4. They practice self care.
5. They rely on routines.
6. They keep the big picture in view.

For me, putting these six “tips” together revitalized the tired mantra, “Look at the bigger picture.” The first five give you a new angle to create steps to achieve this big picture, steadying motivation.

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Weekly Rewind

Weekly Rewind: September 19, 2014

For all the time I spend perusing the internet throughout the week – during my lunch break, on my commute, while lounging on the couch, etc. – I decided a “weekly rewind” of sorts would be beneficial in keeping track of what tickles my fancy.  The following articles, videos, or updates either struck me as funny, inspiring, or provocative and I’m hoping this feature helps me bookmark what I’ve found useful during my countless hours of internet wandering.

Photo credit: Refinery 29

5 Painless Ways to Save Your Paycheck

I’m lucky that my bank has an online program to help me monitor my spending and set goals for certain types of purchases.  Ideally I’d like to limit my spending to $600 a month.  This total includes work-related costs (Metro fares) as well as utilities (internet and electricity).  Monitoring my spending helps me refrain from impulse buys and peer-pressured dining.  Most of the time I go out to eat at a restaurant because my friends are when I’d be just fine with a home cooked meal in my own apartment (made with food on which I have already spent money). However, this doesn’t mean I have to refrain completely from monetized socializing.  Instead I set a budget for dining and entertainment within this $600 so I can go to a concert or an adventurous dinner. I might not always stay within my month budget goals, but because I remain diligent the variance is thankfully low.

Photo credit: Nylon via Paramount Pictures

Men, Women & Children Trailer

Usually movie trailers give the entire plot away in two minutes, but this MWC trailer is so mysteriously poignant I honestly have no idea what’s going on. Last month I came across the teaser trailer which featured text bubbles instead of dialogue, as the film’s marketed as a commentary on the internet generation. This is a great example of quality, enticing film trailer composition. I get the gist of the film and yet I’m so confused by the intertwined story lines. On October 1 I’ll surely be searching out this film in theaters.

Photo credit: Apartment Therapy

Joey’s “Cozy Modern Vintage” Room

I love the vivacious coziness of this room. Personally, I’d rather see this decor on a larger room. However, I appreciate the welcoming color palette and assorted decorations, which range from mini-potted plants to framed inspirational posters. I also adore the gallery and map walls.  This room is bursting with inspiration and oozes creativity.

Autumn at Anthropologie

Anthropologie Fall Must-Haves

Did you know the first official day of autumn this year falls on September 23?  That means it’s time to refresh and update our fall wardrobes. This fall I’m hunting for cozy and versatile pieces to help me get more use out of what’s already housed in my closet. I’m also looking for pieces I can spin into outfits for office work-wear, casual Fridays, special events, and weekend brunches. Thankfully Anthropologie is a one-stop shop for this kind of wardrobe. If you’ve ever looked at a piece and wondered, “This is cute but how can I wear it?” or, “How will it fit into my current wardrobe?” then these tips might help you be a more decisive and strategic shopper.

Scalloped Cocoon Cardigan

Since high school I’ve nurtured a mild obsession with cardigans. Whether it’s to cozy up during fall or winter, or to add some conservatism to a dress, a cardigan is always my secret “outfit weapon.” I prefer cardigans in neutral tones (white, tan, black, or gray) for their versatility so I can get more wear out of the piece. That’s why this Scalloped Cocoon Cardigan is a stand-out winner in my book. The cocoon style allows you to cross it over in the front for warmth without the sometimes awkward pulls of a button closure. However, as a petite woman, I’ve noticed that longer cardigans can tend to pull on my bottom and create an unwanted bubble effect on my backside. That’s why I’m digging the split back of this scalloped cardigan. It’s perfect for a t-shirt and jeans outfit on the weekend, but is ready to warm up your sleeveless shift dress during the workweek. Of note: because of this sweater features an acrylic-wool blend and a cocoon shape it’s important to store this heavier sweater folded on a shelf or in a drawer since hangers could create unsightly pulls at the shoulders.

{DIY} Grateful for Garlands

Creating, especially crafting, has always been my favorite form of relaxation and, honestly, therapy. I’m a very goal oriented person, who appreciates efficiency and productivity. I’d rather spend my downtime working on a DIY key rack than endlessly clicking through the internet. Crafting a unique item to use myself or gift to a friend is so gratifying because I feel like my downtime has been well spent creating something functional and beautiful.

My favorite “fast DIY” is garland. “The possibilities are endless” is a fabulous maxim, but not always true. However, in the realm of DIY garlands it certainly is so. Garlands can be intricately crafted, with different materials, or quickly made, with simply paper and string. You can use them for temporary or permanent decorating, and  for daily reminders or holiday celebrations.

Some garlands I keep up for months – those boasting inspirational words or colorful tassels – while others are seasonal – for Christmas and New Year’s. However, my favorite style involves two simple materials: clothespins and ribbon. With a little pain and hot glue you have a fast and personalized gift for everyone in your life. I use mine to hang photos, greeting cards, and little mementos.

My DIY Garlands

Thanks to my slight obsession with this type of project I curate a board on my Pinterest strictly for DIY Garlands. Follow here. It’s my trust source for party decorating and gift crafting!

Garlands 1 || 2 || 3 || 4