Who Defines the Word 'Normal'?

Whenever I hear someone say, "I'm not normal" I cringe. This reaction stems from the sadness I get knowing why people say that. Everyday we constantly compare ourselves to the people we work with, the people we see on the street and the "people" we see on TV. Let me remind you..the ones on TV are called characters because they are not living real lives. If you watch reality TV, there's a spin on it and almost always there are scenes cut out.

Everyone is unique and I like to say strange in our own way. There isn't a single person on the planet that is exactly like you or me. Now, there are people who share similar views, like the same things or even look alike but all in all we are different. This is a good thing! If everyone was exactly like me, the world would be boring!

I have to remind myself all the time to stop comparing myself to others because once I go down that path, my life crumbles and I surrender to the tears that fall. Looking at my friends' lives or even just people I know, they look so happy all the time and so perfect. If you ask them, you might get a different story. I would venture to say that most people don't air out their dirty laundry on social media. They may even hide that from their family and friends. Social media is where people expose the awesome parts of their lives. So the next time you start feeling bad about yourself, STOP and think about the amazing things you've done. Everyone has a different path, explore yours and tell the world about it!

So what is "normal'? You define it.

Makeup

I've read in girl/women magazines that many men prefer girls without makeup because it shows the real "you". When I was younger, in high school, I used to think that was silly. So many celebrities look so much better with makeup and in fact look dreadful without it. Now, post college, I realize why seeing the real person is so much more appealing.

Personally, I still feel like I don't look pretty without makeup, but I've been proven wrong on many occasions. Guys have hit on me, given me their number and called me 'beautiful lady' when I've been without "beautification" on my face while wearing sweatpants. To me I look boring or give the message that I don't care about how I look. I do care, maybe not as much as some people who cake themselves all over, but I do want to look good when I leave the house. Everyone should.

On the opposite side of the coin however, if putting makeup on is the only way you feel beautiful, something's wrong. You choose to be beautiful. Now, I know we all hate the phrase "Be beautiful on the inside" but in reality being beautiful on the inside counts for something too. In my life, I split the attention between the inside and the outside so that both are being treated right. I do my best to be kind, loving and respectful towards others while at the same time I make sure I look my best. I don't spend a ton of money (though there are times when my favorite stores have awesome sales), but will spend it on items that will enhance my inner light :)

Love yourself both inside and out and don't succumb to the pressure of needing makeup to be beautiful!

Tell Someone He Can Do Better

Whenever someone challenges me to do better, the first instinct is to defend what I've done then I realize... maybe I can do it better.

I will never forget when a librarian friend of mine who was running a writing class told me that I could do better on a story I had written. Her statement surprised me because prior teachers had always praised me for my work. So my mind was in warpdrive.

However, because she said that. I do my best to look over my work and not hold too tightly to something. If something needs changing in order to make it flow, funnier or whatever it may be, I aim to do better.

Tell someone he/she can do better. You never know how that one statement will change their life. :)

Advertising

Recently, I opened up to a new world of creativity. Writing for an ad agency is a different twist to what I'm familiar with. Growing up, I loved, and still do, creating stories filled with characters and plots from beyond the horizons. With this new gig, I get the chance to use my craziness and silly ideas to inform the public about a concept, idea or share new information about a brand new product they might like to have and enjoy!

So far it's been a whirlwind of learning but at the same time, I'm learning a whole new world that is too much fun! I've written TV scripts for commercials, radio spots and print ads. When I was given the assignments, I had no idea where to start, but now the ideas never stop!

If you had asked me in highschool, what I would be a year out of college, I would never would have guessed anything close to advertising.

Thinking Like God

I've been told to think about God as a parent more than a friend even though the Bible states that He "sticks closer than a brother." Personally, I find it hard to view God as a friend anyways because he's always telling me what to do. That's more the lines of a parent.

When bad things happen to me or when I honestly can't feel Him in my life, all I want to do is cry and throw things. Generally, I don't show my true feelings around others so unless the person knows me like the back of their hand, which only a couple can actually say that, no one will know when I'm depressed or feeling inadequate.

The movie, Joyful Noise, really hit home for me because both kids' feelings about God and their mother resonate with me. There were times where I hated God. I hated myself too. I'm not normal. I'm different from everybody else and I hated that! It wasn't until college, where I learned that it's ok to be different and on top of that, people actually liked me as me. God doesn't make trash! All of this brought memories of junior year at CORE where I gave a talk about this very matter. How quickly I forgot!

Over the years, I've been through a lot. Probably not as much as some people, but we all have our share of problems. I try to think like God when something I really wanted falls through or someone does do what I had hoped they would. I also try to remember that just because I made a mistake doesn't mean it's God's fault. I'm no saint and I'd never try to be, but I don't want to be a miserable old woman who's scared all the time. I'm afraid I won't ever be happy, I won't ever find a group of real Christian friends who are physically near me or that I won't even be financially independent...ever! I'll be stuck in my parents' home for the rest of my life miserable with no life and no friends. My mind tends to go to the worse case scenario.

Living with my parents sometimes feels like hell, especially the last few months. I've come to realize both care in their own ways and I try to remember that. One has been more open handed than the other and sometimes I wish I could get through to them that I'm not a kid and that I can actually think for myself and make good decisions. Yes, I will probably make more mistakes. No doubt, but that doesn't mean I need to be sheltered and guided every step anymore. I know what to avoid and I know how to handle myself. I'm a no nonsense person and I pray that never changes.

Thinking like God means I often need to take a step back and try to see the bigger picture. True, it's hard when I'm in the middle of it. I don't understand why I couldn't have that job in Iowa. Actually, I do, but I don't. If I had had that job, I wouldn't have found two in Connecticut that I utterly enjoy. Would I trade then for that position in Iowa, NOPE! WHY? Because the job in Iowa even though it involved writing, it wasn't actually the exact type of writing I LOVE to do. I like web content, but not as much as creative advertising or teaching ASL. So God gave me something HIGHER. Looking back, He's done that before, I just didn't believe He'd do it again.