Princess Energy

A small moment, a bit of kindness, and a reminder that we’re all in this together.

Two older gentlemen opened doors for me, simultaneously, side by side, as we left the Y this morning.

I felt like a princess as both doors swung open, welcoming me to walk through. I told them as much.

They laughed, smiling in that genuine, kind way people do when their small act of goodwill is noticed. One said, “Well, you are a princess.”

And you know what? I accepted it.

Because from my perspective, princesses are pretty badass warriors for what is right.

Maybe that’s why the moment stuck with me.
As strong, independent women, we spend so much time carving our own paths, fighting to be seen, to be respected, to not be mistaken for delicate, too sensitive, or in need of saving, that sometimes we forget to simply receive.

We brush off kindness.
We downplay compliments.
We refuse the metaphorical open door because we don’t want it to mean we’re not capable of opening it ourselves.

But maybe, in our determination to prove our strength, we sometimes miss out on the good that exists for us.

I’ve learned that receiving is not weakness. It’s acknowledgment, an exchange of goodness that keeps the world from getting harder.

Becoming my own kind of princess

Somewhere along the way, I stopped trying so hard to fit into a mold, to be who I thought I needed to be, and started focusing on becoming who I already am.

And in that space, something shifted.

I started noticing the little things again.
The way my kids share in all of my silly quirks.
The way a stranger’s small kindness can turn a day around.
The way gratitude expands a moment into a memory.

The messy imperfect varieties of me.

That’s what I want my children to see:
A mom who is herself inside and outside the house.
Someone who leads with kindness and conviction, but also encourages the world be kind to her, too.

Crazy hair and all.

Because if they see me living that way, maybe they’ll learn to bring their whole selves to the world, imperfections, laughter, kindness, and all.

I don’t have it all figured out (who does?). But I do know this: the world feels a little less divided when we pause long enough to see each other as human.

One smile, one silly comment, one bit of gratitude, one honest story at a time, that’s how we make it better.

If that sounds like the kind of energy you want in your inbox, come on over.

I’d love to welcome you to this crew of quiet warriors (well, some of us are not so quiet, but that’s OK too) those choosing to prioritize the good, to open doors for one another, and to keep showing up, genuine heart-first.