You are beautiful
Welcome to August my loves
Well hello there superstar!
How are you doing? I honestly cannot believe that the month of July is but a memory. The dog days of summer are here and with them the heat and smoke as well.
I took a few weeks off from here to focus on my new adventure working at the Lutheran/Episcopal Campus Ministry at OSU. It has been a hell of a ride the past few weeks and I thought I would jump in here and share with you some of the wisdom I gathered throughout July.
❤️🔥 When you say “YES” to every single opportunity that comes your way it creates space for magic. Several years ago, I was working with a woman who had a program called the “Summer of Yes”. After I lost my election, I made a decision to say yes to every single opportunity that approached me and Y’ALL…this summer has not disappointed. Yes indeed. New job, new connections, dragonflies and humming birds buzzing my face. YES YES YES!!!
🫶🏽 Collect and use all the stickers. When I was a little girl, I collected Mrs. Grossman stickers. And I thought they were so adorable, I never used them. Ever. They just sat there in my padded, Hello Kitty Sanrio box (if you are from the 80s you know EXACTLY what that box looks like). This year, I have decided to use all the stickers on all the things and you guys, it is so FUN!
🥰 Love is radical, so is Jesus and coffee creamer. Listen, I know this seems ridiculous. Love really is the answer y’all. Like truly loving yourself - radical. Loving yourself for all you are is just RADICAL. And the more I fall in love with myself, the more I experience love from others. Jesus, a total radical. And his teachings - ridiculously radical. That is why they have been whitewashed, they are dangerous in all the social justice ways. That dude knew what was up. Fighting empire, that was his joy, and I am here for it. Also, why is coffee creamer so amazing? Heavy cream - a pure delight. What makes it radical? Any time we can find joy in the littlest things it is a great reminder that we are well and truly alive and no one can take that away from us. Radical.
💖 I have been writing about love here for years. Every time one of you sends me a note to say thank you, I become so filled with happiness. Every time one of you comments on a post, I think to myself, “How lucky am I?” Thank you for being part of my world.
I love your face,
Melissa
P.S. Right now if you become a monthly subscriber it is SUPER CHEAP! Get in at this bargain rate (70% off) for subscriber only content! LOVE YOUR EVER LOVIN’ FACE!
Melissa, the stickers give this whole update such a useful image: joy can sit untouched for years when we keep saving it for a day that feels worthy enough. Using them now feels connected to the new job, unexpected connections, hummingbirds, dragonflies, and even good coffee creamer, all small declarations that the life in front of us is already an occasion. I also love that your return to writing arrives from inside a season you have actually been living rather than observing from the sidelines. Grateful for the way you made permission to enjoy what is here feel as practical as peeling a sticker from the sheet and finally putting it somewhere.
Love this! Love you ❤️