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January 20th, 2012
Riding A Unicorn, Bareback. And Forgetting How Awesome You Are.
Knock knock.
Who’s there?
It’s me…talking to you.
YOU…the one who is feeling all bad about yourself right now. Feeling like you’re not doing it right, feeling like you’re failing, feeling like you’re stuck and like you’ll never have the life you want.
YOU…who has done so many amazingly ridiculous things in your life, jumping through fire, bursting through fears, only to come out the other side bigger and brighter. And then once you land on the other side, you’re all like “yeah, whatever, that wasn’t a big deal. And what I really want is to cross fire while riding a unicorn, bareback, and I’m not good enough to do something like THAT, so I must be a loser.”
YOU…who has forgotten how great you are. How smart and interesting and funny and loving you are. Who is always there for your friends. Who makes children smile. Who makes kitten coo. Who gives her heart and learns and grows and keeps brushing the dirt off and getting back up when you fall.
YOU…who has survived a broken heart. Many broken hearts. And is still willing to love. Still willing to put herself out there to be vulnerable and judged.
YOU…who has started your own business or written your own blog or tried something different and got bummed because it didn’t turn out the way you wanted it to.
YOU…who sometimes doesn’t want to get out of bed or face the day or deal with the crumbs on the counter or call back any of the messages in your voicemail box.
YOU…who are scared and sensitive and worried that you’ll never have what you want, be what you want, get what you want, reach the state that you desire.
This is for YOU. And this is for ME. To remind us both that we are the heart and soul of this world. We are the ones that care enough to make things different. The ones who know that change, on a big level, starts with change within us. The ones who are striving to be our best so we can deliver the best and make changes, for the best. If we didn’t care about affecting change, we wouldn’t be caring about pushing ourselves to the next level.
And anytime we push or move to the next level, we enter into an epic battle of US vs. US. The Mind vs. Matter. And in these moments, we MUST NOT FORGET HOW AWESOME WE ARE. How far we’ve already come. How capable we are. How much magic we can make and how many impossible things we already make possible.
Keep on going. Get out of bed. Start writing that book. Put together that new program. Start your non-profit. Take that trip. Fall in love. And smile knowing that no matter how unknown the road is, you’re still on the road. Keep walking.
We want what you have to offer. We want you to show up. We want you to succeed. And we want you in this world shining brightly. DO try this at home. Do whatever it takes.
*Disclaimer…when I said “YOU,” I also meant “ME”. We’re all in this together.
Let’s start celebrating the ways in which we’re awesome. I’ll start. Then you go. Leave a comment below with some things you want to celebrate about yourself, or ways that you get yourself out of a slump. And if this resonates…share with your friends!
Here’s one reason I’m awesome. I rock. Like this.
And this. With my old band, Poets & Pornstars.
Your post is exactly what I need right now.
I just got my biggest rejection letter since last year’s big rejection letter. But I’m going to make it happen anyway. And to try to convince myself that I can, here’s a previous accomplishment: A year ago, at 5’2″, with zero experience playing sports, I trained and made it through tryouts for my local roller derby league. Now I’m doing CrossFit and training for Tough Mudder. Yesterday I did 55 pull-ups!
And you, Sally, ROCK. In every sense of the word. You rock us like a hurricane.
WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA!!!! Those are MAJOR accomplishments. 55 pull-ups?! Are you kidding me?? Will you train me? :)
Seriously, I have all the faith in the world in you. You’re so bright and beautiful and talented and I just know that you will have what you want. Thank you so much for sharing and seriously…I’m so impressed!
Love you lady
55 PULLUPS?! I am SO JEALOUS I did 10 pull ups today and was exhausted as hell…guess i have a long term goal now :-)
I mean, right?? Why she gotta make us feel all bad? ;)
SALLY you freaking rock my world! This was awesome :)
It appears as though we were commenting on each other’s blogs at the same time. I loved yours as well!!
So impressed by you lil thang.
Once again you are in my head. Thank you for being awesome and reminding us that greatness is in all of us.
And thank you for letting me speak. Again. And reading. Again. Now…please do share the reasons in which YOU are awesome. :)
That’s my girl!! I REALLY needed to read this today too! Mirror mirror right … but you hit it all on the head. Not a surprise but I was tearing up the whole time, especially at the parts about forgetting how great we are and also the times where we do feel sad, discouraged, worried, etc.
You my dear always have been and always will be an inspiration – in your highest of highs and lowest of lows. Keep on keepin on … the next level is right around the corner and is waiting for you with open arms and bated breath. :)
Love you,
Natalie
Well…I started this right after your text message earlier. Thank you for the reminder. And thank you for always being such a supportive cheerleader.
To tha top!
Sally
LOVE the band pic, Sally…reminds me of when I went and saw you guys at The House of Blues. You opened for Tesla on the “Real To Reel” tour. I own your CD. I also have the sticker given out at that show and it’s in my cheque book binder.
Oh, this blog DEFINITELY reminds me of me sometime…walking through fire and all that good stuff…oh, my…
Well, been a year with me and my lady so far, and given my usual issues with relationships, I’d say that’s pretty good.
So when will the GGM World Tour Bus stop in my city?? I owe some ladies some drinks and know of a bar that has “Country Music Fridays”.
Oh my gosh!! RIGHT?! Those were such fun times. Congrats on the year with the lady. Success!! :)
And yes, we will definitely come to Chicago this year. Country Music Fridays here we come!!!!
Make sure to dig out your cowgirl gear, cuz there’s no cover if you’re dressed “properly”. I’ll just have to be the Joe Elliot to your Taylor Swift (because I wear combat boots and jeans).
Sally what a great post and reminder that we are all SUPER SPECIAL in every way and we CAN DO ANYTHING…. we just have to DO IT & not listen to those little voices in our heads!! {hehe} Whenever I am feeling not so good about myself or a project that I am working on I re-read this poem by Jack Prelutsky…. makes me smile everytime!!
Me I Am !
I am the only Me I Am
Who qualifies as me,
no Me I AM has been before,
and none will ever be
No other Me I Am can feel
the feelings I’ve within,
no other Me I Am can fit
precisely in my skin
There is no other Me I Am
who thinks the thoughts I do,
the world contains one Me I Am
this earth shall ever see,
that Me I Am I always am
is no one else but Me!
I LOVE this poem!! Thank you so much for sharing. I feel like this should be posted above my bed so I can read it every morning.
So now…do tell us…what are the ways in which you’re awesome? :)
Girl you are so right of course! This is exactly what I need right now, transitioning to the NEXT LEVEL in my life, so scarey and so AWESOME.
Some ways I’ve rocked:
I had artwork in a show at a major LA gallery with really famous judges when i was 23!
I survived and have thrived after 3 of my close family members died
I’ve build a MAJOR social media program that is only getting bigger!
I have awesome friends like you!
HECK YES!! You’re AMAZING. Thank you for sharing that stuff and yeah…the next level is always really weird and scary. It’s like uncharted territory, and any time that happens it’s really uncomfortable. I’m right there with you. Holding your shotgun, so you can walk forth confidently. :) See you soon. Bang bang.
Some of us consider our major accomplishments such “everyday occurances”, that we don’t realize how major they are. It seems I don’t give myself enough credit until someone reminds me. Thank you for reminding me.
PS: I didn’t realize you were in P&P! I LOVE girl bass players and I loved the Tesla mention…Troy Lucketta is a treasured friend of mine!
Miss Lisa…SUCH a great point. We have the tendency to just brush over all the great things we are and we do. It’s important to stop and appreciate ourselves.
And YES!! As to P&P. That was such an amazing time of my life. Touring with Tesla was absolutely the best thing ever. SUCH great guys. Next time you talk to Troy, tell him Sally from Poets says hello.
Sally, you just know the most amazing and awesome things to say that dig right under what the world is feeling. You’re just so fucking intuitive like that! Bomb girl, bomb.
Since you asked…
I’m awesome because I love people. I’m awesome because I’m imperfect and that makes me perfect. I’m awesome because today I belly-laughed so damn hard with my two brilliant mini-mamas (my daughters) – so hard I cried and thought – “damn I’m lucky”. I’m awesome even when I’m scared to interact with others…and that’s been happening a lot lately.
I’m awesome because even when I’m having a shitty day, I’m alive. And being alive gives me the opportunity to read this post. And be inspired. And feel good.
Thank you for the feel-goodness, the realness, and your rock star-ness.
xoxo
Jen
Miss Jenny…thank you so much. I’m so glad it resonated with you. I once heard…”no tear from the writer, no tear from the reader.” There were definitely some tears while writing, so I’m glad it read accordingly. And YES those are amazing things to be awesome at. And I agree with all of them. You are so bright. So warm. So absolutely fabulous. And so inspirational. Thank you for continuing to be my friend.
Sally,
You are my hero! We cannot always control the circumstances of our life – but we can control how we respond. We are all created with greatness in mind and greatness is meant to be shared.
I love what you do and how you do it. Keep sharing.
Jeremy
That is absolutely right! Even when we don’t think we can control how we respond…we can. Thank you for all your continued support. And thank you for your encouragement.
Ooooh, this was a goodie! Thank you for writing this post Sally. SO needed. And such a damn good reminder of how much each of us rocks!
Personally I feel pretty damn proud of how much I’ve accomplished in 34 years. How I’ve come through the fire of a tumultuous childhood, too many “failed” relationships to count, feelings of unworthiness, not being “good enough”, addiction, death, disease…you name it. It’s touched me.
AND YET…
Despite all of this. I get up. Every single day. And strive to live my life. To do better. To grow. To learn. To evolve. To love deeper than yesterday. To help others. To change lives. To be beautiful, inspired and whole.
Thanks for helping me remember how sparkly I really am! :)
And how much I love reading your words and adore having you in my life.
xo
Girl..YEAH!! Seriously. You have been through so much, done so much, created so much, and are so much fabulous. Hahhahahaha. You’re incredible and I’m lucky to call you a friend.
Gracias! Great blog. Great timing. I need to remember all of that stuff.
I am working hard on starting a non profit and at times my heart gets so heavy… but I believe in change and that all children deserve arts in schools…..
And I also am listening to my heart – which is asking for quiet these days….
winter hibernation…. make a fire, knit a sweater, write in my journal…. refresh and rebuild to keep doing the great work…..
So I persist and will return to this blog again…..
Michelle
Miss Michelle…thank you so much for writing and I’m so glad it resonated. DEFINITELY keep going. And go forth with the fire in your heart that made you want to start the non-profit in the first place. There will be many ups and downs, but you just have to get through them. You can do it! And I’m right there with you about the hibernation. Taking it easy. That is exactly the vibe I’ve been feeling too. I’m so glad you stopped by to say hello.
Xo,
Sally
P.s. I checked out your site and it is amazing! What a great cause!
Love this Sally :) You’re so right, been through so much, and kicked ass at so many things. Need to stop forgetting all I’ve accomplished in this life so far!
UM SERIOUSLY LIZ!!! Hahhahahahhahahah
girl, you have no idea how much I needed to read this! Def sharing with two of my close girlfriends need to hear this as well!
Oh yes…I DO know. I know because I needed to hear it too. We’re all in it together lady. Let me know if you need any extra pick-me-ups.
You just made me cry. And I can’t tell what tears they are which is usually a good thing. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Gosh I wish I could meet you right now and give you a hug…as we are about to get on to our unicorns. :)
Hey lady…I’m so glad it resonated and I TOTALLY understand what you mean by the tears. Same thing happened to me as I was writing it. Give yourself a hug today. And know that you’re amazing.
Good to hear some Poets, too. Do you stay in touch with Hal? Wonder what he’s up to… Now I am hearing Earthman in my head, too. Lol Sally, I love when you write, and I want to go ahead and pre-order the book right now, the one I just KNOW you are going to write one day. What have I accomplished today that makes me awesome? I did not bite back, is probably the thing I am proudest of. Did not react at all. Just hung up the phone and went on about my business. Let go of the bad, sour feeling, and sent blessings to the person who is over-the-top crazy. Oh, and I might have scored a job, too. Love you all.
Yeah! It was fun to dig that out. And yeah I still talk to Hal. He’s doing great. I love what you said about not biting back. It’s such an important thing to remember and self-restraint is not always the easiest thing to do. NICE WORK!!!
Someday I will do a pull-up. Hopefully not the diaper kind.
HAHAHHA! It’s one of my goals for this year. Not the diaper. The pull-up.