Words to live and write by

MANIFESTO OF THE BRAVE
AND BROKENHEARTED

There is no greater threat to the critics
and cynics and fearmongers
Than those of us who are willing to fall
Because we have learned how to rise.

With skinned knees and bruised hearts;
We choose owning our stories of struggle,
Over hiding, over hustling, over pretending.

When we deny our stories, they define us.
When we run from struggle, we are never free.
So we turn toward truth and look it in the eye.

We will not be characters in our stories.
Not villains, not victims, not even heroes.

We are the authors of our lives.
We write our own daring endings.

We craft love from heartbreak,
Compassion from shame,
Grace from disappointment,
Courage from failure.

Showing up is our power.
Story is our way home. Truth is our song.
We are the brave and brokenhearted.
We are rising strong.

- Brene Brown, "Rising Strong"

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How Time Out Works at Our House

You know those Mommy-Freak-Out Days? If you are a mom, you know what I mean. Today is a Freak-Out Day for me. Details are pretty irrelevant - typical reasons a mom might freak out, you've heard them all before. I am just not handling anything right now. So I am in Time Out. I've locked myself in my room and I'm not allowed to come out until I can start reacting appropriately and rationally. (It's okay, Daddy's home early from work, and Grandma & Grandpa are visiting, so my threenager is not unsupervised.)

I figure I better model how this Time Out thing works for my little girl. You see, when she does something to get in trouble, there is a consequence, and she usually doesn't like it. But we reserve Time Out for when she's not necessarily making mischief, she is just not handling things appropriately. She is exactly like me in this. When everything is blown out of proportion and we get snappy and cranky and angry, it usually means we are hungry or tired or just need to cool down. And I am just as susceptible to this as my child. So when I can't handle things, when I'm overreacting, and food or a little rest doesn't help, I need a Time Out. Lana often PUTS me in Time Out - she KNOWS. And we both know that whoever is in Time Out needs to mellow down before they can come out.


Obviously, I have my laptop in Time Out right now. So I just felt like saying, "It's one of Those Days." Not for pity, just for a few "I have those, too - you are not failing because that happens." Because that helps me calm down some. And also to make a commitment somewhere that later, when I can handle life again, I am going to rewrite today and make it better. Because I have the power to do that. Once I regain control of my perspective, I can change it and focus on the good moments, and make one of "THOSE (bad) Days" into one of "Those (great) days." I can do it. ... in a few more minutes or so.

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No Soliciting!

Okay, I'm a nice person. I am. But nap time is sacred. And solicitors are a pet peeve (I know, they're all just trying to earn money, but still).

So I've got this handmade sign at my door that reads: "I'm not buying; I'm not signing. You can't sway my vote or my religion. And HEAVEN HELP YOU if you wake me or my baby from a nap. Seriously, NO SOLICITING! (Exceptions: Girl Scout cookies and LDS Missionaries.) - That covers most everything, right?

Now, I have a good view of the front porch from my computer, and I often watch solicitors approach my door, read the sign and walk away (or for better entertainment, read, start to walk away, turn around, read again, then walk away a bit faster). I think the capital letters really get my point across.

But today.... Today I watched two men, obviously not starving college students, walk up to my door, read my sign, *during nap time!*, and "knock,knock,knock,knock!"

I sat a while and debated whether to open the door. They began to walk away, and I thought, "Oh no. Not during nap time. Not today. Today I am feeling FEISTY!" And no one messes with a feisty Hannah.

So I opened my door, caught them on the bottom porch step, and said, "Excuse me!" They turned around. "Did you read the sign?"

Open mouth and hesitation. "Uh yeah... Well... We were just at your neighbor's house and they have the exact same roof and we're doing pricing..."

I cut them off, point to the sign, and say with a smile, "Not buying."

Open mouths again. "Okay, but we'll be back tomorrow and..."

I cut them off again and point at the house, smile really big, "Baby's napping! Did you read the sign?"

This time hands are in the air and defensive positions are taken, whispered words, "Okay, sorry. Have a nice day."

I smile and wave them off.

Yep. Those capital letters really get my point across. I didn't have to yell. Didn't have to get all mean. I just smiled and repeated a couple phrases from the sign. Feisty Hannah is still nice - they just knew that "HEAVEN HELP YOU!" was standing behind my pretty smiles.

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