Three Little Words

One of my best friends and book guru, Jenna, recommended (a year ago – a detail I’m not proud of) I read an autobiographical novel by a young woman named Ashley. I finally, as one of my New Year’s resolutions, picked it up on January 4^th. Today is the 7^th and I finished it last night. Needless to say, it was good. And I promise not to spoil it by telling you the three little words that make up this book. I decided instead to come up with my own list.

I was sitting at Firestone getting the oil changed in my car when I decided to think about my list. (This is also after our first premarital counseling session where the pastor looked at me and said, “You like to make lists don’t you?”) As I was brainstorming I flipped through the December 2010 issue of Harper’s Bazaar. I read two very interesting articles.

The first was by Ashton Kutcher (there is no reason to start a list here of all the reasons he is my celebrity crush, but let’s just say the fact that he is an extraordinary writer tops the list). This was all about how we all text and email and write on Facebook walls to flirt with and swoon our significant others. It made my stomach do flips just reading about how much more exciting it is to receive that first phone call from someone you are interested in. Scary and exhilarating. I remember the first time David called, I couldn’t answer. I had to call him back after twenty minutes when I calmed down. And even then I had to have an excuse ready to let him go because I knew I would say something stupid. To which Ashton (yes, first name basis), says that “vulnerability is the essence of romance.” How true that is. I have never said more stupid things in front of a person than I have in front of David. And he loves me anyway, and maybe, even more. And so I came to my first three little words: Still Get Butterflies

The second article was about the part of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s life when she was an editor. This article deserves its own List of things I love. Not only was it about Jackie, editing and publishing, and filled with great pictures and quotes, but it mentioned one of her final editing endeavors: a book about weddings. A job she accepted saying, “let’s do a book to let all those nice American girls off the hook and show them that they can do it their way.” Hello! I love her. Here’s a link so you can read it yourself, although I’m more tempted to tell you to go buy the issue so you can hold it and see the glossy pictures.

http://www.harpersbazaar.com/magazine/feature-articles/jackie-kennedy-onassis-story-0111

And so, my second set of three little words is: Give Yourself Permission. This takes a little more follow up and I have to give credit to my mom. My beautiful mother, after listening to me ramble on about something I am anxious about, often sighs and tells me, “Katy, I give you permission to be happy.” Why does either my mom or Jackie Kennedy have to remind me that I have permission to do what I want to do? Anyway, in case you are like me and need someone to say it, I give you permission to do what makes you happy. Right now. So go try it.

So to say goodbye to the first book of 2011, I have a few things to say:

Too many orphans

Try overcoming adversity

Anything is possible

Someone needs you

Do what’s right

Let’s do something

Truly be yourself

and

Thank you, Jenna

And now, tonight I start a book written by my friend, Donna Long called Prevent Cancer, God’s Way. Three little words I use to describe Donna are strong, faithful, and beautiful. I will let you know where to buy the book. Because, for 2011, shouldn’t three words for all of us be Fully Love Life.