Don't Be Mad. I'm Just Being Honest.

Another post from the other blog - in case you missed it.

.................................................................................................................................

First of all, I’m obsessed with Pinterest. OBSESSED! I’m genuinely excited to try some of the DIY stuff I’ve pinned on there. However, sometimes I think, “Pshh! That looks easy! I can do that!” when really, it’s kind of like the whole “your-eyes-are-bigger-than-your-stomach” thing. Just like trying to eat an elephant, this project turns out to be much more complicated than you thought…kinda like this:

(Photo credit: Google. I originally saw this picture on Pinterest. A few people have thought that I baked the failed cookie monster cupcakes. Although I’d love to take credit for the awesomeness, it wasn’t me. AND…I don’t really have a need to make Cookie Monster cupcakes…)

ANYway, as much as I love Pinterest, every once in a while I see something that really bothers me. Quotes usually – ones I don’t agree with. You know that quote that says (paraphrased): “Don’t cry. All it does is make your mascara run…” ??? I hate quotes like that. Sometimes I just need to friggin’ cry – and I don’t want to feel like an ungrateful jackass when I do it.

Here’s one that someone just posted on Pinterest. Another one that, a few years ago, would have made me feel insecure and second guess EVERYTHING I said. I would never, ever want my kids to read/believe something like this. The quote is set up to look all cutesy and artsy. It looks like this – just add more colors, flowers, cool font, etc:

BEFORE YOU SPEAK
THINK:
T – Is it true?
H – Is it helpful?
I – Is it inspiring?
N – Is it necessary?
K – Is it kind?

Now, while I definitely want myself and my children to say things that are true, what happens when they want to make up a story? Use their imagination? I’m okay with that, too.

Is it helpful? What if it isn’t? What if you just want to say something? And helpful to whom? You? The person you’re talking to? Sometimes I can say a whole lotta bullshit that really helps me get something off of my chest and likely doesn’t help the person I’m talking to at all. Is that okay?

Is it inspiring? Pshh, how often do we say things that are inspiring?? I mean, honestly, telling my kids to think before they speak and to think if what they are going to say is inspiring…geez! I might as well say, “K – never, ever speak unless what you are going to say has a 100% chance of showing up on an internet quote board.”

Is it necessary? To whom? Me? Someone else? Who cares? If the thought comes into my head, necessary or not (kind of like this blog post), is it okay if I just say it?? Man, if you’re really that upset by something unnecessary someone else said, purge it.

Is it kind? Meh. I pretty much agree with this one. I really do…but sometimes, people are jerks – and it feels damn good to say, “Man! That person who’s always a jerk to me sucks!”

Hey, I’m human. Get over it.

But really, if you haven”t checked out Pinterest yet, you should. You’ll love it.