Affirmation | An Original Poem

i want for you to know Yourself

be Yourself

love Yourself

who cares about your size

your thighs

the lies we tend to tell ourselves

ways we judge ourselves

ways we shame ourselves

and instead

proclaim Yourself incessant

exclaim Yourself insuppressible

don’t hide from the side of Yourself

that you think others don’t want

and instead

decide what matters ―

the You that needs a voice 

the You that has a choice

should arise

aim for the skies

reside among the stars

because You, my friend, are

luminous

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7 things i love about... My Friend, Gemi

Why not debut "7 things i love about..." (a regular which will surely be one of my faves) about my fabulous friend Gemi, who flew up last weekend for a visit (and whom I already miss terribly).  So here they are, in no particular order...

1. Her name.  Beautiful Gemi.  She's a Gemini, and has spent her entire life clarifying that her name is not "Jimmy," but "G-e-m-i."  Something she undoubtedly hates, but I, on the other hand, think is lovely.  (I'm just a plain "Emily," after all)  She told me last weekend that she's actually punched her dad for naming her this, but it fits her - it is strong, it is unique, it is clever.  And it was a top three contender when my husband and I were considering names for our daughter.

2. She's brilliant. Three degrees and considering her PhD, and not at all intimidating about it (which is the best kind of smart, in my book).

3. She appreciates good, bawdy, Old School-Will Farrell humor like no one else.  And will continue to repeat the same funny lines that we laughed at to this day, and they will be funnier because we shared them together.

4. She loves my husband.  They are just as close as she and I are now, and for some reason that makes me love her more.

5. She is confident.  Not in an annoying "I think I'm so beautiful"-type of manner.  But she isn't afraid to take pictures of herself whenever she travels, whereas I've been shying away from the camera more and more throughout the years.  It's inspiring, because she is beautiful.

6.  She lives life.  Captain of a kickball team, nursing in Africa, traveling to Europe for New Year's, the Dominican Republic over the summer.   In her spare weekend off she might fly up to Alabama to hang out, or grab a weekend away camping.  She doesn't waste a moment.  She works hard, and plays hard, and if I sound envious it's because I am, in many ways.


7. Last but not least, Gemi does the most amazing impersonation of SNL-Weekend-Update Drunk Girl. Ever.  Only now that we're older it's getting more and more difficult to get drunk girl to make an appearance.  Sad face.  If you've never seen the skits, I've included one here.  For you, and for Gemi.  Thanks for keeping me laughin', girl!

Tuesday's Two Cents: A Movie That Changed My Life

I finally got around to watching the Oprah episode which reunited the cast of The Sound of Music (aired October 28, 2010).  That's what happens when you've been cooped up for two days with strep throat - you finally get around to scrolling to the very bottom of your DVR list.

So of course Oprah has a very moving tribute to Julie Andrews from, of all people, Rosie O'Donnell.  But surprisingly, O'Donnell was extremely genuine and proceeds to tell Andrews how The Sound of Music helped her daydream her way through a less-than-perfect childhood, and how the movie today still touches a special place inside her.

Age 7 at softball game

Which got me thinking about a movie that had such a profound impact on me growing up: Now and Then.  The movie debuted in 1995 and I remember watching this movie over and over with my friend Abby.  Somehow the four girls seemed so real to me -- and now that I'm older I realize that they really, truly were.


 I identified with the main character Samantha most -- what can I say, she shared my melancholy outlook on life.  Her disgust with her parents' divorce, her tendency to say things like, "If you don't fall in love, you can't get hurt."  My melodramatic teen heart ate it up.   And besides, she grew up to become a novelist!  Oh, how I wanted to be her, hang-ups and all.

Senior Year 

Even today I still enjoy the movie, only now I relate to the grown-ups they become.  The difficulty of keeping childhood and long-distance friendships in tune, not wanting to go back home, worrying that everyone might be happier than you.... been there, done that.

Now and Then taught me that problems don't go away once you get older, but that sometimes all it takes is a good girls' weekend to put some of those old hurts to rest.  I'm so grateful I learned both of those lessons at an early age, and even more grateful that I still have old friends (like Abby) in my life!

I only hope to share this movie with my own daughter one day.  And who knows --- maybe the four of us will watch it together.

 Our girls, only three months apart