Jokin’ About Bellies and Butts

Some of the women in our family thought it would be great fun to start an online blog where we can write and learn from each other. We threw out a theme for the first round -- what we've learned from the women in our family, but our intention is to have lots of different themes and to invite family and friends to join us, so we can all laugh and learn together.

Here's my first silly entry!

When the women in my family get together, watch out! Some serious giggling and cackling ensues. There’s always the threat of peeing in your pants because you’ll laugh too hard. The laughter is uproarious and ebbs and flows in waves of beautiful harmony– in tones that begin to sound alike. A sense of humor conquers all.

Mom taught me there is no such thing as boredom. “Boredom is a state of mind,” I hear her saying through my voice to my own children now. “If you’re bored, it’s because you choose to be bored.” If we had a headache, we could go lay down. You can do anything you set your mind to, and you’ll feel better if you do it with a smile. Smile at everyone; you just never know whose day you might brighten. Keep an open mind and don’t judge others; you don’t know what it’s like to walk in their shoes.

Granny taught me you don’t need a man. You just need a good book. Haha! Seriously though, all of the women in my family are wildly independent and seriously creative spirits. From reading to writing to acting and photography, they’ve done it all and they continue to do it with pizzazz and flair.

Aunt Jane taught me to make time for the things you want to do, and all three women have taught me that being a domestic goddess is highly overrated. It’s much more important to use your time to make yourself happy (and your family and everyone else happy) by choosing to do the things you find fulfilling, such as travelling and writing.

Perhaps most poignant for me is the lesson that true inner beauty – kindness, love, and mitzvah – shines through and is what makes a woman truly beautiful. The women in my family may joke about our bellies or our butts, but I’d venture a safe bet we all feel super confident and sexy, no matter what the scale happens to say. And I have learned that when you’re silly happy doing the things you love and you love yourself, others flock to you and love you too. And isn’t that what life’s all about? Learn and love as much as you can and enjoy the journey along the way.

The women in my family are well loved and with good reason. They are strong, intelligent, pee-in-your-pants funny, kind, thoughtful, talented, beautiful women with hearts so big and laughs so infectious, you’ll want to spend hours on end with them the same way I do. I hope they each live to be 120 years old, but if they don’t, I’m so grateful to Aunt Jane for giving me this opportunity to tell them how much I love them and appreciate them for what they have taught me. I could go on and on about all of the women in my family (particularly my sisters, sister-in-law, aunts and my cousins), but since it's a short blog, I thought I'd limit it to the 3 crazy awesome women who decided to start this blog. ;) Love y'all!