Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me…

Taking the blog on a bit of an empowering journey today. Last month’s “Are you ok?” campaign for suicide prevention raises the importance of taking the time to ask each other how we are doing. Reaching out is such an easy thing we can do to show support to our loved ones. So consider this as our way of reaching out to you! Y’all know you’ve had the Taylor Swift song “Shake it off” stuck in your head at some point in time (yes boys, you too!), but I think Swifty has a good point. 

I’ll keep it short and sweet and not get too deep with it, but we have all had those times when (whether people have meant it or not) someone’s words deflate your spirit and can make you question who you are. It could have been the other day at the gym, or out to lunch with work friends, or even just a passing remark you heard in the dorms/around college. We just want to check in with all of you out there and say we all are not alone in feeling that way! So don’t think you need to change who you are. Embrace yourself!! We probably sound like a nagging mother in your mind now as you read this, but it really is true, and we think too often the focus on the one small incidence and we forget how good life can be. 

Here is your challenge for the day: go up to one of your friends or family members, even a stranger, and simply ask how they are doing. Though some may be super casual about it and care more about their lunch order, for others, they may have been waiting for the chance to get something off their chest, and you could turn their day around!

Personally, we love these mean tweet segments on Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show. An extreme, yet great example to show us all to not take what others have to say about us too seriously, and also the importance of laughing at yourself.

Now go and embrace the day because you are awesome!!! So go spread the love!