Own Who You Are

They say imitation is flattery. I have never really known who ‘they’ is, but I want to talk about what they say for a second.

Let’s start with you/me/us and consider this your little pep talk…
You have this one life. Be so unapologetically you. Own who you are. Embrace your unique qualities and live them out loud because you see, you are an original and the world is made better by your presence. Go out on a limb and try new things instead of just following the crowd. If you try something and you fail, that’s okay. Use it as a learning experience and grow from it. Basically, in the words of Coco Chanel, “Don’t be like the rest of them darling.”

Now, let’s talk about imitation and consider this your second little pep talk…
There are a lot of things in this life we have control over, and then there are just as many we can’t control. The actions of others? We can’t control them. How we react to those actions? We can control that. I know it’s hard when you pour time, effort, soul into something just to have another person take your “thing” and run with it. Your first reaction might be to get frustrated – and that’s okay! – but don’t spend too much time on that feeling. Own it, move on from it, and continue on YOUR OWN journey to greatness.

Trust me, friends. I have been here before – and both sides. I have wondered why I couldn’t be like “this one or that one.” I have wondered why others can’t be original. I have let frustrations and thoughts consume me and that only stood in the way of bettering myself…and in the end it never really mattered that much anyway. Those who know simply know.

Stay real, stay you, and always be kind.