Wearing them hats …

No one is a hat person until they wear one!

No one knows what to do until they actually do it.

To know about something and to know something are two different things.

I thought hat was for people who could tell you where lip balm is at any given point of time — you know, organized enough to have just enough enthusiasm to put a hat on.

OR

For pictures ..

But 2019 summer happened ..

Fact: I started wearing a hat this summer because my skincare costs too much time/effort for me to not wear a hat. And, #AtlantaHeat ☀️ #sunprotection is wise while enjoying the sunshine.

So, I bought a hat at Francescas and my plan was to wear it as I walked the outdoor mall. As the cashier at Francesca was charging my card I asked her “so, what do people do? .. if I am wearing my hat and walk into stores, do I just leave it on or hold it awkwardly in my hand? — it’s not even sunny inside the store, you know”

I bet she thought that this one is going to return the hat! So, she smiled and said “You look cute in it. Wear it!”

Thank you Francesca girl, I do think I look cute in too and I wear it. AND I bought another hat too.

Life is much like this .. we don’t know what we don’t try. If you want to try something, let this post be your Francescas girl – just try. If not the whole experience try a tiny version of it.

Fact: 5yrs ago, when I was pregnant, someone asked me what part of the experience I am most petrified about .. I recall answering “the fact that THEY think it’s cool to send me home with this new baby without THEM being around” They/Them = The medical staff obviously!

Spoiler alert: It’s working out with the baby – a bit early to tell though!

This hat is from Target and sorry Francescas, I don’t have a picture in my gateway hat from your store. One day ..

Also, turns out .. I just may have been a hat person.

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Nothing is ever random ..

I was positive but not inclusive ..

🤷🏽‍♀️ It is safe to say that I have yet to style myself the same way I style myself IN MY HEAD. ⁣⁣
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Especially if you are someone who is aware, negatively, of your body then I know you are nodding a resounding YAS!⁣⁣
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💯 I love an oversized sweater (& hugs) I also love a skirt.I love a styled look! But I keep that styling limited to my bathroom mirror selfies. ⁣⁣
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I have been body positivity for a long time – for others, not myself! 💯⁣⁣
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So, I decided to change that because I don’t like it. And I like me. So, I included myself. ⁣AND I posted a pic of me without shoes, I know! ⁣
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🙌🏽 TIP: When styling with oversize top with a structured bottom a little front tuck goes a long way – If you want to try. And, the bit of tuck is not just for women. Men, try it. ⁣
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⁣Regardless of your gender what is that one thing that you are positive about but not inclusive? What are you doing to change it? ⁣⁣
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🎤 Positivity is great but inclusivity is impactful! ⁣
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Share your story in comments to inspire! I would love to read them 🙏🏼 ⁣⁣ 📸 Post your styling pic with hashtag #bodypositivestyleinclusive & don’t forget to tag @thebirdwhoswam

Gender Equality is all of us

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🏃🏾‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️Imagine running, side by side, with someone. For a bit both of you are aware of each other. Then, both of you get in a zone where you are self-aware. Still, aware that you are running with someone but not aware enough to check on their position. ⁣
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🎇 It is required that both of you, collaboratively reach a destination, to win. Imagine your feelings if you find out that it was mostly you who moved forward. Whatever your partners reasons maybe, your feelings are real. ⁣
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That running is our growth. ⁣
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That destination is an empowered & equal world.⁣
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The partners in it are all of us, of all genders. ⁣
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🗣 Be aware of where you lack and work on it! 🗣 Vocalize & Normalize gender equality. ⁣
🎤 Gender equality is not just a woman thing. It’s every gender’s responsibility to step it up and demand balance. ⁣
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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮. ⁣We are moving forward, join in!
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The audacity of Me ..

Audacity: A willingness to take a bold risk.

All of us take risks every single day in our life – sometimes we succeed and sometimes we learn. Sometimes it’s mostly a failure. We start all over again.

🗣 Own what is yours!

It’s Mental Health Day today!

Your future is being worked on, are you participating?

We all want an empowering, thriving, innovative, equal, peaceful, healthy & wealthy future.

🗣 Then WE all need to make an effort. Personal, Professional & Civic!

At the least – don’t mock or hinder someone/something that is making an effort towards the future that you so very much want.

Diplomatic Distance

There is no need to burn the bridge. Just find closure within and take a detour ♥️

Sometimes by creating a diplomatic distance  you allow yourself to view the positives of the people and the situation rather than the constant stream of negatives.

Peddler’s Purpose

My mother turns to a drug the moment something unpleasant happens or an unpleasant thought has been vocalized to her. This drug has sustained her through challenges, and there have been some lofty challenges! Mostly emerging triumphant, wiser and stronger and sometimes just high of life is my mother, the user and the peddler.

Her drug is Positivity and she peddles this drug like her life depends on it & and as if it’s coconut oil and the time is 2015’ish.

If you think it, it happens! – My Mother’s 90% thought process.

From politics to potting plants – her ask/solve is to think positive.

I tried that with my succulents. And reported back to her that it doesn’t work out as such. Ofcourse, I knew that! This was was my way of fighting that positivity peddling.

That constant peddling of positivity was infuriating and confusing to me. Confusing because what she peddled was brilliant, true and I am more percent optimist than anything else. Infuriating because .. I had no clue and that made it worse.

The thing is that I spent my 20’s ignoring or let’s say slathering coconut oil on my life and waiting for a miracle. It was not until I turned 29, I self-helped – more of that in a post of its own, at a later time. Today we focus on my annoyance towards my mother’s positivity!

So, I did what I have done all my life – FFO. Figure the F**K Out. (Yes, my posts will have encrypted language once in a while, or all the time or to taste – I am not sure)

Why did my mother’s positivity peddling annoy me when I knew that has value and it made sense? I had to know and I did what I do best, over-analyze, only this time I did it with some method to the madness and it became clear: Positivity without a plan and Positivity without inclusivity are like ‘Thoughts & Prayers’ – sure, it feels good but you are no where close to a solution. And, for most of my issues, I was just whining. I did not have a plan or willingness to actually DO something about it. What I wanted to do was whine and for someone to dole out sympathy. Lucky for me my mother peddle-ed positivity!

I had self-helped myself for big things in life but for the medium and small parts, I whined. I whined when I should be acting.

For example: I whine about these extra 30lbs … 35lbs if I am being honest. I am surrounded by incredible examples of friends & family who are fitness and physical health inspiration. And, the ball is n my court.

So, if you ever find yourself dismissive or infuriated with positivity then I urge you to explore the below before you dismiss the peddler:

1. Check in with your cynicism. Maybe it’s the hurdle to giving life. people and situations a chance.
2. Explore opportunities for self-growth and plan in tiny parts. Physical fitness is my goal and mental fitness comes organically to me. I need to apply the same approach to physical fitness as I did to my mental routine – start small until it becomes lifestyle. I need to begin with water intake & 10mins of movement.
3. No one has a perfect life. Sometimes done is better than perfect, unless you are cooking! But really, just pause, surround yourself with positive inspirations and if you find yourself unhappy, DO something.

My Mom!

When a positive message makes you smile – You are somewhat peaceful. You get it! You may not dwell on it, but you get it. It doesn’t annoy you. You are my inspiration 🙂

This post for my mom – my forever & always positivity peddler. And it has happened.. sometimes I open my mouth and my mother comes out. I love you, Mom!

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A choice is made .. the ‘how is it made’ depends on your choice.

It’s a choice.

It was always a choice.

It will always be a choice.

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🗣 If you make the choice, then you get to guide the experience.

If the choices force you to make the choice, then the choices will guide the experience.

Share the thought 🙌🏽

The universal flaw

To know your own flaw and work on it and is massively powerful!