The Spin Cycle

Saturday day was tough. I was to attend a Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration across the Bay that evening, but somewhere along the way I got lost in my own personal Spin Cycle.

I found out the evening before the party that the preferred attire was a floaty white cotton skirt/dress motif. Off I went Saturday morning to search out some feminine, traditional Mexican white clothes on the last day of October.  Did I mention that I don’t really enjoy last minute shopping?

I had a lot of luck, all of it bad. By the time I returned home 5 hours later with nothing but the 35 limes I’d bought as my party contribution, I was firmly entrenched in my Spin Cycle. You see, I had forgotten to eat all day, and to be honest, I’m not the most rational or balanced girl when I’m stressed, frustrated  and hungry.

Oh, and the Bay Bridge was still closed, so it would easily take over 90 minutes one way to get to the party. Aarrgghh…  I REALLY didn’t want to spend another 3-4 hours on the road after the day I’d had. More spin ensued.

You know, I generally know better than to let myself get spun. But there I was, anxious and frustrated and hungry and petulant and all sorts of things that I’m not particularly proud of. Le sigh.

It was obviously way past time to put on my big girl panties and stop the Spin Cycle.  I needed to tell the truth, tend to my well being, and tender my regrets to my hostess. I did what was necessary.

I battened down the home hatches, got some take out Chinese food, mint chip ice cream and Mike’s hard lemonade. The housemate and I ate ourselves silly.  I got a little potted, which is very rare.  I toddled to bed slightly inebriated and surprisingly happy. Unspun.

I tell you this story because I’m not perfect and you don’t have to be, either. Thankfully confidence does not require personal perfection. Confidence is born of acceptance, forgiveness and celebration of Self. It is regained when lost with liberal applications of self love and honorable action.

Can you be imperfect and confident at the same time?

Molly Burke CPCC MSU
Queen of Confidence
www.lifepurposeworks.com
“I’ve bottled confidence, and you can, too!”