dress to impress 👗 🧥 🌈
Saturday was an important day in our family for a couple reasons.
My daughter had been counting down the days to her first change in earrings since getting them pierced.
It was our local Pride march, moved from June to late September, bringing in LGBTQ history month (October).
It was unseasonably warm and beautiful weather to enjoy time outside!
As these events coincided, we got ready for the late afternoon march. However, as we prepared to walk out the door, my daughter began lamenting, "I wish I had rainbow earrings to wear!"
This became a source of increasing distress for her.
She was concerned that her support wouldn't be evident by her rainbow skirt, rainbow on her shirt, and rainbow sign she had made stating, "All are welcome!" (Clearly, there was no shortage of rainbow representation on her little person!!!) 🌈 😄
Somehow, she felt that without rainbow earrings, she would not fit in.
In reality, of course, her presence alone was what mattered, regardless of what she was wearing.
She's certainly not unusual in these concerns. Perhaps you relate to getting caught up in what you'll wear or how you'll look ahead of how much your presence alone matters.
When are you most susceptible to focusing on how you dress or look to assess whether you'll be comfortable, accepted, or fit in?
What responses do you offer to these natural feelings of nervousness and fear about wanting to belong?
How do you create safety for yourself and others to be exactly who they are - with a value on showing up authentically rather than on appearance?
One of the things that fills my heart is being in places where there are a wide variety of people, clothing, and appearances all coming together. Whether in an airport, at a Pride march, or in Houston (one of the things I miss most about the city!) it is the presence of variety...so many people being who they are...WITH safety, that feeds my soul with joy.
How could showing up as your authentic self - regardless of how you are dressed - contribute to your own joy as well as setting an example of inclusion for others?
You matter. You make a difference. I'm so thankful you're here.
