Accepting Yourself for WHAT and WHO You ARE

This morning I think I shocked some people. EveryI've finally realized, that's not me... and now I see some
single day when I drop off my son for school I amadvantages to being who and what I am.
dressed in jeans, sweats, or something extremelyI can get in front of a school full of people, shake them
casual. I usually have a baseball cap on and sunglassesup, and get them to take ACTION!
on, so I go relatively unnoticed.What about you? What are those things that are
Many of the mommies at our school could win adifferent about you? Are you someone who is
beauty pageant! They're the country club set whocomforted by taking a back seat and supporting
show up in their tennis gear ready to go play a game.others? Are you one of those people who can be
What makes it even worse... is that they're all incrediblyorganized all of the time and love nothing better than
nice!reading a good book? Are you someone who can
This morning, I had my TV face on, ready to publiclysee a room and know that if you added a bit of color
meet the students, parents and teachers of our schooland a few accessories that the room would really
for the first time. I dressed up, did my hair and even putcome to life? Or are you someone who loves creating
on a suit. I rehearsed my speech that I was going tothings on the computer that challenge your mind?
give to the school to raise more money for ourI've come to realize that our roles in life are here so
Technology fund raiser.we can work together to support one another. All of
When our principal announced that a mom hadus have different gifts and talents and in order for us
something to say, I took the microphone from her andto have happiness in life, we have to be using our gifts
loudly greeted the students, faculty and parents:to benefit others!
GOOD MORNING ST. MARGARET MARY!!!We all have weaknesses too. That's why we NEED
(The movie Good Morning Vietnam was my model!)each other. None of us can exist solely on our own. I
For that next minute or two I engaged the students inknow that a person like me NEEDS the organized
banter about the upcoming event! I told them thatperson to keep me on track, to do my books and to
Friday was going to be filled with MUSIC, GAMES,keep my desk clean. I can't do that very well and it's
FOOD and FUN!!! Then I shared WHY raising moneybothersome of course. I am blown away at how
for technology was important! I challenged the schoolsome people make THAT look so easy.
to get a VISION for technology and that we all had toAccepting yourself isn't easy. It's hard to be different
work together!when you're a young person. No one wants to stick
My message was LOUD and CLEAR! WE NEEDout like a sore thumb and be considered an oddball for
MORE MONEY!!!looking, acting and feeling different.
It was more like a pep rally than a speech.It's time to celebrate the differences that we all have.
I think I scared some people....they weren't used toLet's start acknowledging those around us who are
having someone be that loud. They weren't used todifferent. Tell them that it's GOOD to be different.
having someone so boldly ask for money. It may haveThank them for being HONEST with themselves and
made some people uncomfortable, but it's importantothers when they show up and are authentic.
and we're behind in our goal. They needed to hear it!And remember, when you see the others who look
And I think we got the energy going!prettier, funnier, snazzier, smarter, sharper, more
I've finally come to the conclusion about me. I'marticulate, richer, or skinnier than you... remember that
different. I'm not a wall flower. I'm not someone who isthey CAN'T do what you can do!!! Tell them that
calm, cool and collected all of the time. I used to wish Ithey're great.. and then go and do your thing! The
was. I used to want to be one of those incrediblyworld NEEDS you to express your talents and to use
beautiful, perfect women who make it all look so easy.them to help and support others!