Tag: relationships
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How Critiques and Crowds Build Confidence
I love hanging out with teenagers. You may think I’m crazy, but you’ve got to know the kind of kids I’m hanging with. Youth groups from all over America have traveled to Orlando to participate in a National Fine Arts Festival and I’ve had the privilege of witnessing their amazing talents. There are ten thousand kids here who…
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No One Should Experience Devastation Feeling Invisible
Every one of us has felt invisible at some point in our lives or another. Whether it was at a party full of strangers, in the middle of the grocery store or in the privacy of our own home when our brothers got all the attention or our husband is distracted.Our lives may center around…
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The Power of an Introduction
We’ve all been in a situation where we feel uncomfortable. You arrive at a gathering at a new location and, looking around, you don’t see a single familiar face. Age does not seem to discriminate against the desire to fit in. Young or old, we all want to belong. We can be completely comfortable with…
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Are you Confident they Love You?
When my little boy was acting up, I would often ask, “Do you need a time-out or a hug?” I was learning the ropes of parenting as a single mom and I was never really sure how to discipline correctly. Sometimes kids act up because they are hungry or lonely. It’s hard to know what they…
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Beauty: the Eyes have it!
I’m sure you have heard the well known cliché: Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. How sweet to have a husband, father or friend tell us that we are “beautiful” no matter what we look like but, honestly, sometimes I find this statement a bit appeasing. Don’t get me wrong, I believe it…
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Our Chaotic Responses to Compliments
“YOU are ADORABLE!” These are the words we hear as little girls. Or new brides. And perhaps again when we are pregnant and “glowing” or dressed up for a special occasion. “Thank you” would be the proper response, but tell us we look good when we don’t feel lovely and an inner struggle emerges. We…
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Beautiful Garment of Gratitude
My best friend is one of the happiest people I know. Everyone loves to be around her because her joy and enthusiasm for life is contagious. Many of us go to her when we feel down because she not only listens and cares, but she has a way of finding something funny in our miserable…
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Welcome to My Mess
Have you ever held back from saying something because you didn’t want to draw attention to yourself? I did that to you on Wednesday. I’m sorry. It’s not the first time I’ve done something like this. In fact, I used to do it all the time–like before I owned my own home. I love to entertain and…
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The Catch 22: Self-Talk vs. Feelings
One of my favorite things to do is to walk along the shores of Cape Cod with the waves crashing on my feet. I hear this is a great way to detox your body. For me, it’s a great way to detox my spirit. I especially find this time alone with God valuable when I…
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Are You Confident in the Face of Correction?
“No, no, honey, that’s dangerous.” You would think my mom had just slapped the kid across the face and yelled at him by the way he burst into heart-wrenching tears. I picked my nephew up, hoping my embrace would reassure him that his grandmother loved him and only wanted to keep him safe. “You used to…
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My Struggle with Confident Beauty
My whole world was rocked the day my first husband left me. Pregnant and alone, his betrayal made me feel ugly, unwanted and self-conscious. Before then, even though I was a hairdresser, I never really focused on my own appearance because, honestly, I was afraid of being shallow or vain. Suddenly it was a struggle to stand in front of a mirror all…
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Are You a Dry Sponge?
I was all ready to walk out the door. I’d taken extra care in choosing my outfit and applying my makeup because I needed to make a good impression at my meeting. With shaking hands, I poured myself a cup of coffee for the road–and missed. As the spill quickly ran toward me, I grabbed…