yikes… a microphone and TMI

so where do you find your inspiration?

With an invitation from Berks County Living I was so blessed to be able to connect with Toni Reece of the People Chronicles.  We had a engaging chat before the microphone went on and when it did she put me at ease.   She has a gift.  Her gift is in listening (not many of us have mastered this), finding the best in who we are and sharing it.     To see where I find my inspiration head on over to Berks County Living and read/listen on.  Also check out the inspiration stories of Margaret Murphy, Maria Stamy, and Bernadette Peter… these are authentic women in Berks that you need to know.

 I’m going to get sappy and personal here.   Ready?

really… to me this is very personal but I’m a blogger and have been journaling since high school.

Most recently I allowed myself to “be” where people saw the best in me when I didn’t.   Some despised what they saw and others thought my kindness and skills were their blank check.  When you are a whole lotta naive (am and will own that) people reciprocate with something and it’s not always integrity.   One gal thought I was a horrible person she even told me, “every time I look at you I hope I never become as evil as you are.”  When that string of words gave a name to behavior the light came on for me. Like a HUGE spotlight.  It liberated me.

The perception of others is nothing you can control and I was trying to.  I knew better.  As much work as I did every day to try to change myself, to become self-deprecating and to be less intimidating/bright so that someone else could be more comfortable with themselves, or changed my professional goals because it was more convenient for someone else’s dreams, gave more to earn approval (and what real value is in someone else’s approval? don’t be stupid) … it made me miserable.

    I can’t think of how to say this without sounding “puffed up” … I felt beautiful inside to hear those hateful words.   It tickled my heart.  Never been so pleased to be so insulted but I knew what I was was not at all how she perceived it.  It was so far removed from reality that for once I was content with my reality.  yup! all rainbows, sunshine and all airy fairy as I wanted to be.  p.s. if people call me beautiful and you happen to be sitting next to me it does not mean they are saying, “you’re ugly.”

Once you remove people from your life who only want to abuse the best you have to offer (in a job or in a relationship) I promise you…because like DOES attract like and bullies travel in herds… and as comfortable as it may seem to be in a situation where you feel you can make a change while being emotionally beaten down, professionally taken advantage of… I promise you there are so many more encouraging, dream filled, passionate, loving, real, sincere people who will take their place.  They will walk beside you to build you up and not because they need some PR.  I promise you.  I hope you never feel alone.  Just reach out.

It breaks my heart wide open to be so blessed today.  I hope you find your voice and see the colorful, inspiring, wonder that is in you.

sappy and personal but this is how I’m feeling this week.  I’ve been blessed that opportunities to be a part of Toni Reece’s chapter, to have my story shared by Berks County Living during the past year and a half and by my clients not because I had to solicit it but because I made room in my life to be surrounded by amazing people.  I’m here because of you … the lovers and haters.

xoxo

phoebe