1/27/11

Another Public Service Announcement

Photobucket
Inspired by William Edmonds' piece.

I've stopped short of tattooing this across my forehead.
It's my new motto for life on those days when I feel too tired or want to wing it.
Phoning it in, as they say.
I want to be ambitious in everything; as a wife, as a mother, as a friend, as the creative director of my surroundings, as the manager of my household, as my own boss and now my own motivational speaker.
This is my new pep talk.

xoxo,
Rachel
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35 comments:

  1. LauraJanuary 27, 2011 at 9:31 PM

    I just love this. Thank you for the motivation!

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  2. janaetimeJanuary 27, 2011 at 9:36 PM

    Mine is: Be kind, for everyone is facing a great battle.

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  3. UnknownJanuary 27, 2011 at 9:38 PM

    wow. good.

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  4. AshleyJanuary 27, 2011 at 9:50 PM

    i love your new peptalk :)

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  5.  AmyJanuary 27, 2011 at 9:59 PM

    Rachel, you said it, girl! I needed this today. :)

    amymorby.com/blog

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  6. Jenny Holiday & AaronJanuary 27, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    awww I LOVE this!!!! :)

    xoxo

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  7. KiraJanuary 27, 2011 at 10:27 PM

    I like that you called yourself "the creative director of your own surroundings." I need to think of myself in those terms. I think it would create a sense of accountability for myself at home. Sometimes I feel like I take my creative hat off the second I leave work.

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  8. JariJanuary 27, 2011 at 11:19 PM

    oh i like! i'm definitely using this motivation too!

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  9. AnonymousJanuary 27, 2011 at 11:19 PM

    Thank you for this. I need to remember these words more often

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  10. GabyJanuary 27, 2011 at 11:40 PM

    I definitely need to be reminded of this too. I can be far too lazy!

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  11. UnknownJanuary 27, 2011 at 11:42 PM

    Be ambitious in your own self-care as well! Sometimes as a mom (woman, wife, creative director, etc.) we need to phone it in one day, to get tanked up for the next (HA - hope that makes some sense!) Just...balance...you are already awesome, you don't have to be superwoman (not every day at least!)

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  12. TanyaJanuary 27, 2011 at 11:51 PM

    awesome! i always burn myself out trying too hard to be the best at things ... i have to have a mellow out kind of motto or i'll be dead by the time i'm 40!

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  13. RubyellenJanuary 28, 2011 at 12:07 AM

    hear! hear!

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  14. thursdayJanuary 28, 2011 at 3:21 AM

    I love this quote and this idea Rachel. Of course, I'm up far too late tonight so I have a feeling it won't be my mantra in the morning. :/

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  15. thursdayJanuary 28, 2011 at 3:22 AM

    But now that I've finished my big huge project for the month I know it can be my mantra once I'm well rested.

    Sorry for the double comment. I didn't want to leave here on a bummer note. :)

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  16. UnknownJanuary 28, 2011 at 4:28 AM

    I hear you sister!
    Px

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  17. ShaynaJanuary 28, 2011 at 6:30 AM

    That is great! I couldn't help but laugh at the first sentence. I think it would look fabulous on your forehead. ;) And as someone else noted, I love the phrase "creative director of my surroundings". I think I've always kind of lumped that in with "managing the home," but really they have their differences.

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  18. bigcountry.January 28, 2011 at 6:37 AM

    love this. it made my day. linked it on my blog. hope you dont mind.

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  19. jenyJanuary 28, 2011 at 6:50 AM

    I believe in this mantra too. It's the days when you try your hardest and there is no movement that cause us to back peddle I think. I have also started telling myself to JUST BE in the moment. That way I am not trying so hard that I miss the little things along the way. :)

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  20. TracieJanuary 28, 2011 at 7:33 AM

    It's okay to cut yourself some slack too. We moved almost 6 months ago and the move drastically changed our routines. I have had to really work hard to be the mom I was before the move. I decided the guilt trips were not helping and I just do my best. Hang in there!

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  21. ChristinaJanuary 28, 2011 at 8:00 AM

    Good words to start the day. I would pair it with Tomorrow is Another Day ... if I didn't live up to my expectations today ... i.e. phoned it in ... then I've got a fresh start in the morning to be a better mom/person.

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  22. katielichtJanuary 28, 2011 at 8:49 AM

    this is really similar to my two rules for working in an office: 1. work as hard as you can every day, and 2, mind your own business. between those two things you can pretty much navigate any tough situation. BUT, it's not too bad to phone it in every once in a while though. The occasional lazy evening or afternoon on the couch are just the rewards for working hard the rest of the time!

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  23. RachelDenbowJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    Agreed. Maybe this wasn't fully balanced w/ my natural ability to relax when I've earned it and sometimes when I haven't! Thanks for everyone's input and sentiments!

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  24. kiki cominJanuary 28, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    LOVE THIS. thanks.

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  25. KatiaJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    this is great!
    I could imagine this thought to provoke the most fullfilling way to live. Ever.

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  26. ricebabiesJanuary 28, 2011 at 11:23 AM

    I feel the same, I try hard everyday, I expect a lot of myself and can get quite disappointed when I don't meet my own expectations. Trying to balance my etsy shop, a blog, my job, and my kids, plus keep it all clean and in order...ekk

    My kids are always first, I figure try hard but make sure I try hardest where it counts.

    Have a great one.

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  27. GinaJanuary 28, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    thanks for sharing!! we all need to be our own motivational speaker every now and then

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  28. letter A studioJanuary 28, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    Perfect post Rachel. I was telling my hubbs last night how worn out I am from holding down the fort. I needed a little pick me up & your post was to my rescue. Thanks! :)

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  29. AnonymousJanuary 28, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    I really like this ... although I had to chuckle because I am currently struggling with the feeling of trying too hard, or no matter how hard I try it's still not enough. If it's not one thing it's another I guess. Here's to trying hard most of the time and not beating ourselves up for the occasional phone in.

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  30. AllisonJanuary 28, 2011 at 1:28 PM

    Yes! So perfect for the end of a really busy and exhausting week. Thanks for sharing.

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  31. AnnaJanuary 28, 2011 at 2:09 PM

    i needed to hear this today. thank you.

    xo
    anna
    the hummingbird haps

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  32. AnonymousJanuary 28, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    Wonderful quote, it's so true. Love how you photographed it to get the message across, very cute.

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  33. jen geigleyJanuary 28, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    ooooh, I so needed this pep talk today! sometimes, by the time friday rolls around I need to hear this. or read this. whatever. thanks!

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  34. NicholeJanuary 28, 2011 at 8:45 PM

    I feel like this should have been a post on my blog... That is my mission. To try hard everyday. Glad im not alone out there.

    check out my blog...its just getting started.

    http://lizzypost.blogspot.com

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  35. TaraJanuary 29, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    Everyone needs a motivational motto!

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