Is there such a thing as bloggers’ block? If there is, I know I’ve had it for a year, maybe longer. On any given day,  I have at least 1,000 thoughts – this doesn’t even begin to include the 2,573 opinions. Sadly, over the last year I haven’t been able to convert these thoughts/opinions into coherent sentences. I wondered, ‘had my blogging days come to an end’? If so, it was the shortest career ever. 

This paralysis of sorts has finally come together for me. 

1. As you may know, I’m a girly girl. I love jewelry, handbags, shoes and I especially appreciate a good selfie. Posting selfies, pictures of bags, shoes, earrings felt supremely superficial. Had I suddenly become a narcissist? Was my life about taking pictures holding bags and boomerangs of my earrings? I found myself judging ME and feeling guilty for enjoying the things I enjoy. Of course, the hubby would disagree on the guilt part. 
2. My blog posts referenced self-image, nude shoes, jewelry but I often asked myself, what made me the authority on any of these topics? Did my voice matter? And finally, was it life altering? Who truly cared about my take on what earring shape goes with their face/outfit. If you were to go your entire life wearing the wrong earring shape for your face, would your life be sham? Probably not.

Many women are guilty of over-thinking and in the spirit of the now concluded Winter Games, I would be a Gold. After much deliberation, it finally came to me:

Does everything we do really need to be life altering? Why not allow ourselves some guilty pleasures – sans guilt? Easy enough, right?

What brought ultimate closure to this was a conversation with my two seven year olds. They proudly told me what they had learnt that day, ‘fact vs. opinion’. What followed was a series of examples on Donald Trump, the best Cheeto flavor and lastly an ‘opinion’ on my outfit of the day #ootd.  I explained to my fashion forward child that while I respected his insight, I had the choice to accept or reject his feedback – I was met with the eye roll and ‘I know, that’s what an opinion is’. (He would win gold for sassy). That was my AHA moment. If my seven year olds could freely expressly themselves without guilt or expectation, what was stopping me? The purpose of a voice is expression…and that is what it needs to be used for – without hate or judgement from at least ourselves. Let’s leave that to the haters.

Maybe these last few paragraphs are a pep talk between me and myself. The last year is a testament to the fact that that the only thing that limits us is US. That and the fact that children can often offer wisdom and clarity that adults lack or often overlook. So, effectively immediately, I will resume my ‘opinions’ on leather pants, animal prints and toe overhang. This time guilt and judgement free from ME. 

PS. The shape of your earring does matter. And…the boomerangs of my earrings will continue.