Trust People to Show Up for You… Give Them a Chance

I remember as a kid going to sleep on October 30th to the sound of my mom’s sewing machine humming along… and waking up the next morning to the same sound. So many times she stayed up all night long to construct costumes ranging from Princess Leia to Laura Ingles Wilder. On several occasions my brother and I were sewed into our costumes as we headed out the door. I can remember being thankful, but I can also remember being frustrated and nervous. Afraid that it wasn’t going to come together, not trusting that I’d have a costume to wear at all. Several times questioning if one of those flimsy, store bought plastic costumes (the ones that plagued the 80s) might have been a better option.

This morning as I finished up Lily’s costume I had a new appreciation for all those hours my mom spent bringing to life the characters in our imaginations. Every year, until this one, Lily has worn a costume from the Disney store. They’ve been cute, but they’ve never been unique, until now. On Friday after much deliberation and angst she took a brain break and started dancing and spinning the pretend record in front of her. And just like that it hit us… “DJ Jazzy Lily“. So today as she heads out the door she’ll be carrying her homemade “two turn tables and a microphone” costume and feeling like a rock star. I’ll be cleaning up the piles of neon duct tape, hair color, paint and makeup.

When I look back I realize I should have had more trust in my mom. She never let us down, she always got it done (even under the duress of anxious faces and rolling eyes), and it was always awesome.

So my encouragement to you today is to two-fold. Trust the people in your life that show up for you. Instead of doubting them, encourage them. Pour into them and see them for who they are, not what they can do for you. And don’t be afraid to be unique. You can be like every other princess or super hero (and that’s totally fine), or you can be an obscure reference to a rap artist from the 80s and dance to the beat of your own drum.