News

Who doesn't want to be a Rock Star? Even if you don't want to be one in the literal sense, I bet you wouldn't be offended if someone called you one. Rock Star. The words even sound strong, bold and commanding.

No one can self-declare the title Rock Star. The title, literal or figurative, is earned. Doctors earn their titles by taking a lot of classes, but there isn't a course series for rock stars. Queens are born or married into their titles, but spouses of rock stars still have to earn theirs in their own right.

Rock Stars act like rock stars before they become rock stars. They work hard at being proficient in their craft. They push the boundaries of their field by learning and taking chances. They lead others and mentor and teach. They are confident and give themselves the gift of taking chances. They have great passion for what they do.

Who are the Rock Stars on your team? Who is showing up to learn? Who is working boldly towards goals and taking chances while she is learning? Who is mentoring others? Who has a passion for the product, the mission and/or the opportunity?

You get to pronounce these teammates Rock Stars. You don't have to have a special ceremony to do it. You just have to recognize what they've grown into. "Hey Rock Star!" is how you can answer the phone the next time one calls. "You got this Rock Star" is how you can send her off on to her next challenge.

And of course, you can send her this card. In it write something like this:

You are a rock star! You've taken chances, accepted challenges and grown. I love seeing you shine in the spotlight!
Cheering for you

Let her know that she is a rock star.

Although she looks fabulous in a crown, being a queen doesn't quite suit her. It's hard to believe that goddesses have a much fun as she does. She works too hard to be considered a diva. That leaves only one title worthy of her passion and boldness. She is a rock star. (The back of Rock Star from the She is Collection.)

Celebrate every day,
Kelly

Capes are cool. They are majestic. They flutter and flow which is almost as good as sparkling and shining. If you're a superhero, it might be part of your required uniform. But capes don't hold any power.

Batman and Superman wear capes, but their capes aren't part of their powers. When they are walking around as Clark and Bruce, they leave their capes at home. Are they still superheros when they are dressed as the average man?

Wonder Woman and Spiderman don't wear capes, and who would deny their classification as superheroes? Little Red Riding Hood got her name from her cape, but I don't think I've ever seen her on a superhero list. I'm not sure she even attends Comic-Con.

When I wrote this card, I kept picturing a woman in a t-shirt and cropped khaki pants with a cape laying on the ground next to her. She wore the cape for a while, and maybe sporting it gave her more confidence at first. Maybe it even acted as a security blanket or a shield. But over time, it became a hindrance.  

She didn't have time to take it to the cleaners. It got caught up in everything. It was a production to drape it over the back of her seat to avoid wrinkles every time she got into her car. Eventually it just had to go.

And when she let it go, she realized she didn't need it at all. She was strong enough to handle anything that came her way. Her superpowers were within her - not on her. She was a superhero no matter what she wore.

You can wear a cape if you want to. And if you do, wear it gloriously. But if you don't want to, know that not all superheroes need a cape.

She used to wear the whole ensemble but stopped when it became too high maintenance. The mask made her hair frizz, the unitard gave her a wedgie and the cape kept getting caught in doors. Even though she doesn't dress the part, she still has her powers. Not all superheroes need a cape. (The back of Superhero from the She is . . . Collection.)

Celebrate every day,
Kelly

When I was in junior high, I took home economics. Half of the year we learned how to cook, and the other half of the year we learned how to sew. Everyone made a simple smock top. The pattern was basically a rectangle with short, boxy sleeves. We could pick our own fabric, but even a Lily Pulitzer fabric wasn't going to make this top cute. One-style-fit-all.

So on the day that we all had to wear our projects, I wore it. I wore it the one obligatory time, but I never wore it again. I didn't like it. I didn't feel good in it. I didn't look good in it.

That day I walked the halls of my junior high feeling blah.  If dry shampoo was a thing back then, it would have been a dry-shampoo day. I took comfort in the fact that every other girl in my class, at least the ones who followed directions, also felt blah. Until I realized that not everyone was acting appropriately blah.

Some girls actually seemed to be rocking their smocks. Their smocks weren't sewn better than mine. I got an "A" on mine. I ripped out that top stitching around the yoke a gazillion times before it was exactly a presser foot distance all the way around it. Their smocks weren't made from better material than mine. I liked the material I choose. So what was the difference?

Looking back, I think the difference was they wore their smocks with confidence. Maybe they were proud of their accomplishment and what they learned along the way. Maybe they thought they looked good in it. Maybe confidence was something they always wore and it was amplified when our clothes were uniform.

Each of those girls who rocked her smock knew something I didn't know back then. Each of them knew how to own her style, and it turned out confidence fit her perfectly.

She noticed other people seem to wear it effortlessly. At first she thought they were probably the same people who could put on a pair of skinny jeans without it being a workout. But then she realized that those who wore it well were all shapes and sizes, so she decided she would try it on too. Turned out confidence fit her perfectly. (the back of Perfect Fit from the She is . . . Collection)

Celebrate every day,
Kelly

Everyone has a little voice in her head that gives her confidence and courage. The problem is that it is often difficult to hear that voice, but you can help that quiet voice be heard.

The thoughts in your head are like a band. Not a good band. More like an elementary concert band or a newly-formed garage band. They compete with each other rather than compliment and harmonize. Each wants to be heard. Each would rather be a soloist. 

Your brain can only think one thought at a time. The voices in your head are constantly putting on a concert. Each one is vying for its solo. Regret, Disappointment, Failure and Doubt are like the loud, obnoxious rockers who just scream and call it art. Courage is the sweet but strong voice. It's the Karen Carpenter of the group.

It's hard to focus in on Courage's voice, but I believe it is constantly singing. If it wasn't, I'm not sure we'd be able to drive on a freeway, try anything new or even eat fast food. It tells us that we can do it. We won't die. 

I'm not sure if you can make Courage's voice louder, but you can listen for it more often. Pause before a big decision or a big step. Search for her voice. It's there. The more you do it, the more you'll hear it.

You can help someone else hear Courage's voice  above the rest of the noise by mimicking what Courage says. "You can do it." "You got this." "You've done it before." "I believe in you." "Let's start with the first step." Statements like these can't be one-hit-wonders. They have to be played on repeat to cancel out everything else. 

Use Courage's words often. Speak them. Text them. Write them. Sing them. Eventually they will be heard even though Courage whispers.

One day the voices inside her head got together and formed a rock band. Regret is on lead vocals and keyboard. Failure strums guitar. Fear pounds the drums while Doubt plays bass. They all take turns drowning each other out on vocals while Courage stands off to the side with a tambourine and appears to lip sync. But when she listens carefully, she realizes that Courage isn't silent. Courage whispers. (from the back of Courage from the She is . . . Collection)

Celebrate every day,
Kelly