Most of you have heard Gwen Stefani’s song “Hollaback Girl” at least a time or two, and the majority of you also probably use this song to remember how to spell the word ‘bananas’. But have you ever taken a second to really LISTEN to the catchy lyrics that fall so easily from your lips every time this song comes on? Gwen Stefani wrote “Hollaback Girl” in response to a comment made by Courtney Love while being interviewed by Seventeen Magazine. Courtney bashed Stefani, calling her a “cheerleader” in a demeaning way while referring to the type of music she sings.

So what did Gwen do? She dressed up like a cheerleader, spelled words out to her musical “crowd” the way that a cheerleader would do at a football game, talked about touchdowns, bleachers, and pom-poms, ALL while at the same time screaming to Courtney (and the rest of the world) that she is NO CHEERLEADER AT ALL. Brilliant.

Often times in our life, we are judged, viewed a certain way from afar, and have preconceived notions made up about us before anyone takes the time to actually get to know who WE are. If I had a dollar for every time someone told me that I ended up being different than they had previously assumed I would be, I would be a millionaire.  And while there are times in our lives when we might appear to be a certain way, WE KNOW WHO WE ARE and that is all that really matters. You can dress me up like a cheerleader, I can run around and dance and sing and chant like a cheerleader, but I know that I am not a cheerleader and that’s the only opinion that truly matters. What kind of life would it be if we had to go around convincing people who we are all the time? The people that MATTER already know who we are, and to heck with all the rest!

Let the life you live, the decisions you make, and the company you surround yourself with do the talking, and spend the rest of your time and energy loving yourself and the people around you. The wise Dr. Suess once said “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind” Ain’t THAT the truth?

For what it’s worth, I think you are beautiful and wonderful and amazing. I think that you lose your way sometimes, because you are HUMAN, and even the strongest of people need to be reminded of that every so often. You are whoever who choose to be, starting right now, and most importantly, YOU are in control of the way you view the person in the mirror staring back at you.

Happy Friday!