“I don’t want anything fake in my life.
I don’t want fake food, fake clothes,
fake friends, a fake body.
I just want to be me.”
Sadie White
My thirteen-year-old niece, Sadie, lives across the country. We have a summer ritual. She visits me for a week or so. We shop, talk, and plan her year. I get to be the wise, accepting auntie.
This summer, Sadie shared her teenage turmoil. She asked, “How do I belong? Am I unique? How do I express myself?” These are questions many of our Style Statement clients ask themselves.
Being content with ourselves while growing can be a balancing act. To be authentic takes courage. For Sadie, that means the courage to ask a new friend to hang out, say hello to a cute boy, or wear her new, red skinny jeans.
You can lead life in comfort, playing it safe, or you can push the edges and feel the joy of full self-expression. The magic lies in letting yourself be curious with yourself and in accepting yourself.
I’m so proud of you, Sadie!
Carrie, what a good example you are for Sadie, too. I like the balance of “The magic lies in letting yourself be curious with yourself and in accepting yourself.” And on a sidenote, is “auntie” a Canadian title? I ask because over the weekend my Canadian sister-in-law just referred to me as “auntie” to her children. I will strive to be a good example too.
Good to see a post from you. I’ve missed your peaceful presence!
Not sure if Auntie is Canadian, but that’s me!