Cherry on Top · A Story to Explore
An Ordinary Tuesday
Pink leopard-print leggings, sparkly shoes, and a whole lot more freedom.
The Story
When Jenny was little, she was terrified of making eye contact.
And if someone spoke directly to her? Oh, goodness.
She could practically freeze on the spot. Sometimes she felt like she might just fall right through the floor.
Being noticed was frightening enough. Being expected to respond? That was a whole other Adventure.
And apparently, she sometimes looked rather grumpy. People would look right at her and say:
“You should smile more.”
“You look so much cuter when you smile.”
Which is rather interesting, isn't it? Here was a little girl who was terrified of being looked at, and someone had decided that what she really needed was instructions about what to do with her face.
Fast-forward a few decades.
Jenny is at the grocery store. Pink leopard-print leggings. Sparkly shoes. Ridiculous hair.
And a smile she's offering because she wants to.
Maybe someone is having a difficult day. Maybe a smile will brighten it. Maybe they'll smile back. Maybe they won't. And that's perfectly fine.
Jenny isn't going to spend the afternoon worrying about whether someone approves of her leggings, her hair, or her sparkly shoes.
But sometimes something wonderful happens.
A little kid spots her shoes.
“I LOVE YOUR SHOES!”
And Jenny looks down to discover that this tiny fashion enthusiast is wearing the most spectacular pink sparkly dress imaginable.
“AND I LOVE YOUR DRESS!”
Or perhaps the child has amazing flame-covered shoes.
“THOSE SHOES ARE AWESOME!”
And suddenly, two people who didn't know each other a moment ago are having a marvelous conversation about their fabulous fashion choices.
No introductions required. No worrying about whether anyone looks silly. Just two people delighting in something they love.
Sassy would like to know whether these children are available for fashion consultations. She has several ideas for her agility wardrobe.
The little girl who once struggled to look at people has grown into someone who can walk through the world wearing whatever makes her happy, smiling at strangers, and celebrating sparkly shoes with children.
The world hasn't stopped looking at Jenny. People haven't stopped having opinions. But those opinions no longer have to decide how she experiences her day.
She can wear what she loves, smile because she wants to, and enjoy the delightful little connections that happen along the way.
Jenny has found more freedom to be herself while the world goes about its business.
And that's the Cherry on Top. Not something waiting for her somewhere down the trail. A way of living that has become more accessible as she's practiced Becoming.
Even on an ordinary Tuesday. Somewhere between the bananas and the ice cream. In a pair of spectacular sparkly shoes.
Through the Traveler's Lens
Have you ever felt uncomfortable being noticed? Perhaps someone looked at you, asked a question, or expected you to respond before you felt ready.
What was happening inside your own head? What were you afraid might happen? What did you imagine the other person was thinking?
Have you ever been told how you should look, act, smile, or behave to make someone else more comfortable?
How did that feel? And how might it feel to choose those things for yourself instead?
Perhaps you love bright colors and sparkly shoes. Perhaps you're happiest in comfortable clothes that help you blend into the scenery. Perhaps you love chatting with strangers. Perhaps a quiet smile—or no smile at all—feels more like you.
What would it look like to give yourself the freedom to choose?
If someone looks unhappy, do you know what's happening in their world? Could there be a dozen different explanations?
You might offer a smile, say hello, or simply continue with your day.
What can you do that feels true to you, without needing to know what someone else thinks about it?
Have you ever had a tiny, unexpected exchange that made an ordinary day a little more delightful? What made it possible?
What might become available in your ordinary Tuesdays as you spend less time worrying about being judged and more time being yourself?
A Little Borrowed Belief
There was a time when Jenny could barely look another person in the eye. Being spoken to could make her feel as though she might collapse.
And now? She can walk through the grocery store in pink leopard-print leggings and sparkly shoes, smile at strangers, and enthusiastically compliment a child wearing a magnificent dress.
That didn't happen because the world stopped having opinions, or because Jenny became someone who never feels afraid or uncomfortable.
She has spent years learning, experimenting, finding language, and practicing Becoming.
Along the way, she discovered something rather wonderful.
She could care about other people without making their opinions the deciding factor in how she lived her life.
That freedom followed her into everyday life. Into conversations. Into grocery stores. Into ordinary Tuesdays.
Perhaps there's a little borrowed belief here for another Traveler. Not a requirement to become outgoing. Not a suggestion that everyone should wear pink leopard-print leggings—although Sassy thinks that would make the grocery store considerably more entertaining.
Just the possibility that the things that feel difficult today may not always feel the same way.
You get to explore what freedom looks like for you.
Maybe it's speaking up. Maybe it's wearing something you love. Maybe it's choosing not to smile when someone expects you to. Maybe it's offering a smile simply because you want to.
And maybe, as you continue Becoming, you'll discover more room to enjoy the life you're creating. One ordinary Tuesday at a time.
Sassy has one final question. Are the sparkly shoes available in paw sizes?