Muffin Tops and Mouse Nests.

I don't know if it is my upbringing or what... but I hate the talk.

But let's talk.

Have you ever thought about how nice the world would be if everyone just was honest. I see this a lot with relationships I have with people.

I decide to go somewhere because I think someone wants me to go there- and then he/she goes there thinking they are doing me some big-fat-favor. At the end of the day... no one is honest. My preference. "Hey, I am doing this for you- so if you don't care that much and it doesn't mean that much- then I won't do it." Better choice?
Only if everyone isn't uptight, insecure, that they can't handle the truth. Like some people can't handle any amount of criticism... or can't help thinking that they aren't good at something.

For Example: At my church in CA-- the church service was amazing. Everything went well- the sermon was always excellent-- the music was always well practiced and top notch. I used to be on one of the teams. One week Joe, the music pastor guy, said to me, "Ashley, you can't sing harmonies-- how about you just mouth the words-- it would probably sound better." I said, "sure. awesome."

He told me, more or less-- hey your voice doesn't sound good here-- stop singing. And I stopped singing-- and it made things go better. More or less, because I was able to admit to myself that I am not good at everything. I guess, the glitch here is this: I know I am not good at harmonies-- how different would my attitude have been if I would have thought that I was good at harmonies... might not have taken it that well.. maybe. But, now that I've processed this information in my head.. I'd force myself to take it well. But that's not how this is approached generally. Instead of risking hurting someone's feelings, we allow mediocrity to rule the roost. We sit back and shake our heads thinking... gosh she has a squeeky voice... man, do I have to see one more slide of a little girl sitting by a lamb and looking at the white-Jesus. We are nice... and we smile... maybe because we know our honesty would never be well received.

Or how about when someone says, Hey- you missed a spot- can you re-clean that.....

I said that to someone last fall- and s/he flipped a lid and swore at me. Why? who knows. Probably because s/he thought s/he had done a good job.... whatever. It's kind of like when my mom sits in my garage and points to spots I missed while sweeping. arrrg... it ticks me off. But, my garage wouldn't ever look clean if she didn't do that. And if I didn't accept the well mannered criticism-- I'd always have a mouse nest in the corner.

My point being. We need to be ok with some sort of realistic knowledge that we can't do it all, see all the spots, sing all the harmonies, preach the best sermon, balance the best business plan, and look good in skinny jeans. Not even
Speaking of-- chances are, if you are reading this, you don't look good in skinny jeans. Quit trying. No one looks skinny in them. We all look funny. Chances are you have a muffin top. and if you do, for pete-sake.. wear a long shirt. No one looks good with their belly showing while trying to pull off skinny jeans-- not even you (and p.s. I have no one in mind when I say this. By you, I mean me.. and by me-- I mean you).


And that, is called honesty.


But, hey, I don't want to sit down and talk about it. And, truth be told- maybe you want mouse nests in your corners, bad harmonies, and muffin tops... right?