First off, I told Ava it was “compliment a stranger day” on the way to school yesterday. With her nose two inches from her phone (are all teens going to end up with weird eye disorders??) and she said, “I compliment strangers all the time.” Voice flat, no affect. Really I asked?? Incredulous of course. Then I pushed it and said, “you really compliment strangers ALL the time??” After which she gave an exasperated “God mom, what do you want??” With a serious irritation and condescending tone to it. I’m pretty sure she didn’t understand what the word compliment OR stranger meant. The amazing part of that interchange? I didn’t let it quash my joy…..nope, I just zipped my lip, swallowed the urge to pull her hair for being rude (which I realize highlights my immaturity), and went on with my morning. #joykill #bitchyteen
I moved on from that. Since the universe felt I needed a happier kid moment, I got this one. Romeo practices his electric guitar 5 days a week., Monday thru Friday. In case you are right now saying “WOW, that’s amazing that a 6 year old is so dedicated and what an amazing mother to be organized enough to make him practice 5 days a week!! I wish I could do that, she should be President of the universe.” Don’t worry, it’s not that impressive in reality. We “try” to physically go into the kid studio once a day (a studio detached from our house), where his guitar and guitar “stuff” is--inevitably it feels about 1/2 a mile away. I “try” to make him do something…..sometimes it’s a painful 3 minutes during which he whines 50% of the time. Sometimes he lasts a little longer. I’m only going for consistency right now, and even then I’m usually really pleased if we made it a solid 4 days.
ANYWAY….Romeo starts playing and before he does he whips out his hand, holds it up and gives me the bird. Just puts his finger straight up and flips me off, but while looking at his finger rather intently. “Uhhhmmmmm, what’s up with that?” I asked. He responds by saying “Brodie says I have to take the longest finger I got and use that to hold the strings down”. Brodie is his rockin’ guitar teacher. He then carefully shows me that he can hold out his fingers, finds the longest one ---shocker, it’s the middle finger--and then he puts his other fingers away. A big old birdie….in my face. Now that’s kind of funny, you have to admit.
The JOY focus today is to put your cell phone away for ONE hour. Sounds easy enough. I’m as guilty as the next person though, I’m tied to my phone, I hate it. Today, I’m putting it away for one solid hour….no peeking, no exceptions. Nothing will happen in an hour. I’ll be free for one hour and here’s my theory. We grossly underestimate the anxiety that constant access creates. Work emails, calls, texts, you rarely get a moment to shut down from obligation bombardment. Hopefully you do at night when things die down at work and in the world, but I’ll admit, I often check my phone right up to the time I go to bed. I realize that I am breaking all the Zen sleep rules (I have a t.v. in my bedroom too…and a treadmill). My point is, taking a no cell hour during the day is a great way to de-stress, and shut out the intensity for ONE hour (go for more if you can). Try it, see how you like it....I bet it brings you a little joy.
I am very happy to see we got the Citizen of Humanity Leah pant in stock…do you guys remember when we had it in army green? I bought those and wore them so much that I think people started asking if I had other pants. I was happy to be “out of jeans” but not “out of jeans”….they feel just as comfortable, serve the same purpose etc., but I love the non-blue jean option. Kind of really excited about the vintage black. ALSO craving
the Prairie Underground water resistant trench….and I’m not just saying that because we have a week of rain in the forecast. It’s pretty great all around, and if I’m going to have to deal with rain, I might as well look good doing it.
Join our love-fest, put your phone away for an hour, and then share with us the details (i.e., did you dig it and did it make you happy?) Tell us about your compliment a stranger day, or any other joy ventures you come up with and want to take the initiative on. (CLICK HERE) We’ll enter you to win a gift certificate (one entry for each contribution to our joyful goal.) Sharing is caring, PLUS you might win, PLUS I heard rumor that there is a shopping coupon JUST for entering. Boom, win-win-win.
Signed, ME {lv}
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