I don't know if you caught my philosophy in a response on someone else's thread, so I'll reiterate it here. Maybe it will help someone if they stumble onto it.
I was several things in high school - a speech geek, an academic over-achiever, a band geek, a quiz bowler and a choir/swing choir performer. Ok, so technically that boils down to just one thing - I was a geek! But the point is, I was very competitive. And that does some amazing things to the central nervous system!
When we saw other bands march, we couldn't help but notice how perfect they were. Other speech duet partners had amazing scripts and delivery. Other dancers had beautiful uniforms and amazing moves. You get the picture...it was intimidating, nerve-wracking. There were times you felt you'd lost before you ever got your turn! So we chose to cheat. No I did not cheat in a competition! We cheated our own minds.
We decided to "fake it 'til you make it."
It's the process of acting as though you believe you can't lose. You fake it, even for yourself. You smile when you'd rather throw-up (and I've seen people do that! ), you pretend that you're better than the best the judges have ever seen. And amazingly, you often are. What's even more amazing is that sometimes you can convince yourself of it before the trophies are ever awarded.
Right now my life is insane. Most of ours here are. We are scared, confused, hurt, and we'd rather go to bed and cry than face the day. Especially a holiday! But I'm going to put on a smile, even if I don't feel like it. I'm going to wear makeup and style my hair. I'm going to play with my kids and pretend to have fun. And the best part is, somewhere in all that I won't be pretending anymore. I will have faked it until I made it real. It works, not always, but often enough to give it a shot.
On a side note, did you know: The act of smiling actually makes you happier. The specific act of moving your facial muscles in that combination, along with the physical memory your body has stored of previous smiles actually releases endorphins. Smiling makes you feel better, which makes you want to smile. It's a catch 22. So smile...and maybe then you'll feel like smiling.
And take pictures of feeling good! We carry around plenty of sadness in our heads and our hearts. Carry something physical with you that makes you smile. Pictures of yourself having fun, or just something ridiculous you can't help but laugh at! If you need some help, go to icanhascheezburger.com for some pick-me-ups. I promise you'll find a laugh there.
I'll be around different times today, hoping to buoy up anyone who isn't at a point where they can smile yet. Have a Christmas worthy of the amazing person you are!
undefeated 24 H 24 S's 4, 2, 1 M 5 yrs
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." ~Dale Carnegie
I was a geek! But the point is, I was very competitive. And that does some amazing things to the central nervous system!
), you pretend that you're better than the best the judges have ever seen. And amazingly, you often are. What's even more amazing is that sometimes you can convince yourself of it before the trophies are ever awarded. 
