Little Ears

I've shared a version of this story before, but yesterday reminded me how important it is to remember that little ears are listening, even when we don't think they are!

My girls are my greatest accomplishment - by miles. They are now grown - but not quite flown. Young adults, 21 & 19, living away at college - in lovely apartments. They are thriving - getting good grades, navigating real life, experiencing the ups and downs of adulthood. I am so proud of the smart, kind, generous, hard-working, and beautiful women they have become.

It was about 5 minutes ago they were young. I often reminded them how to treat others who crossed their paths. We always said, “You don't have to be friends with everyone, but you should always be kind. If you can't be kind, be quiet. One friend reminds me each time I see her how my Allie welcomed her daughter when she arrived at their new school. Just scooting over and inviting her to sit beside her - making her daughter feel welcome. They became fast friends.

I also reminded them to be kind to themselves. I regularly corrected them when I heard negative self-talk. There were two ways I did this. One was quite funny - it was a poem I learned from my dad who learned from my grandmother - I'll share that in another post someday. It was long enough to evoke eye rolls and cries of "Moooooo-ooooooom, stop, we know!"

The other was this: "Your ears hear what your mouth says, and your brain believes those words."

Negative self-talk hurts us. There is physiological proof that this is true. (Source)

Yesterday, my daughter was navigating a minor inconvenience and she grabbed my hands and said, "Let's have an energy circle and ask the universe to [help me solve this problem]." And we did. She said a few encouraging words - and as she walked upstairs to get ready to leave she said, "[my roommates and] I do this all the time before tests, clinicals and stressful moments. It really helps. Even [they] said so!" She went on to share that she yells at her friends when they say harsh things about themselves.

I LOVE this! I love that she was hearing my words. I love that she believed me! I love that she loves herself & I know she will expect others in her world to be kind to themselves. I love that she asks to hold hands and have an energy circle when she needs encouragement. I love that she quotes me to her college roommates. I love that she listened to me - and it stuck.

So, today's reminder is to be kind to yourself. Compliment your outfit, compliment someone else's outfit. Be joyful and attract joy. Tis the season, after all!