i believe....

this weeks word up over at onelittleword is BELIEVE....this was jessi's choice & i really really loved this one....of course i waited until the last minute to get it done, but i've had this kind of scrap statement in my head for a while....so happy jessi came along to get it out of my head & onto some hambly :)

you can see the whole little book over at Scrap in Style, but here is my favorite page....

& it is my favorite for so many reasons...i adore that little man & woman stamp from the kit we were given to use...i have a feeling i'll be using it everywhere...

but the real reason why i love this page is that i feel so strongly about this one....it is one of the things my parents instilled in me (& are famous for...lol)....we never were a family to just follow along...i was encouraged to march to the beat of my own drummer...i was taught to stand up for what i thought was right, whether or not anyone was standing with me...it was drilled in me that i needed to think for myself & not just do what everyone else was doing...i remember my dad would always say to me "jeanette...if everyone put shit on their face...would you do it too?" (i know the saying is "if everyone jumped off a bridge...but my dad is infamous for screwing up those kind of sayings...lol!!)....& as a sassy teen i often answered "duh dad!"...

but it has always stuck with me...it is sometimes so hard to be the one to stand up & stick out...the one who doesn't just follow in line & march along with the crowd...but it is so SO important sometimes to do just that....& there are some amazing role models in history who did stay true to what they truly believed in, despite it not being popular, and in many cases, they suffered greatly because of this choice, but they held steadfast and the whole course of everything changed because they did....Anne Frank, the founding fathers of the United States, Harriet Tubman, Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr, Mother Theresa.....in fact i find it particularly fitting that my favorite saint, St. Francis of Assisi, was such a shining example of this....

and just yesterday, my good friend becs wrote a superb post about embracing our own individual beauty and going against the ridiculous standards of perfection that society has placed on us...ngaire also has been running an ongoing challenge "beautiful like a rainbow" to help us all realize that true beauty is in each and every one of us....and you know what?  maybe if we all stand together against the tide...we can change it :)

so here's to hoping that i can practice what i'm preaching here...and also that i can teach my children this valuable lesson by my example so that they will have the courage to do it when necessary.

have a happy wednesday!

xoxoxoxo

gi

Comments

[cheryl]

Such a BEAUTIFUL page and the sentiment is SO true!!! I try and teach my girls that message everyday...to be a leader, not a follower...to do what they know is right, despite what others want to do...that beauty is on the inside...to not judge too quickly...being like everyone else is the easy way out.

Thanks for sharing!

[Patty S]

i like your dad's way of putting it! i try to teach that to sarah, because she's 8 1/2 and i can see how things her friends do are beginning to influence her. i'll have to change a certain word to *poop* (heeheehee!) but it sure gets the point across!
love the album, btw, as i love all your stuff!!!!
patty :-)

[lpmkate]

Great mini, great post! So totally agree and how lucky you are to have had this instilled in you from your parents, and that you will continue and pass it on!

[Nicole]

What an inspiring post gigi!!
And I really love that mini...all you gals at olw are so darn creative :)

[Kim Arnold]

WOW - great words

[ngaire Bartlam]

Your Dad!! What a man.. LOVE that saying of his.. and great work sweetie>P))

kiss kiss,
Ngai
xxx

[Court De]

I believe YOU inspire me!
love it and YOU!!!

Court

[katie]

Love the book what a wonderful message! What paper did you stamp them on? I am waiting to get that kit in the mail!

[Maricarmen Maza]

This is so sweet! Love it!

[Joy]

totally fun little book!

[Lisa]

Nicely put and I agree. I was one of those that stood out and stood up and now that I'm older and have rejoined with some of my old school mates, they have said that they admired me for doing so and respected me still. Somehow I found that odd, b'c at the time I didn't feel admired or respected but it paid off.

[adrienne l]

Loved this post G! You are a really touching writer :)
I think it's really great that your parents instilled that "march to your own beat" personality trait...mine did this to me too but I'm thankful now as well :) Thanks for the extra links for the challenges and schtuff :)
hugs

[Rach]

just popping in to say 'hi'!!

[amy lapi]

omg!! totally gorgeous!! :O

[jessi lute]

I love this mini!!! and I think i might be lifting it, LOL!! i love the sentiment and the journaling!!!

[Ashley Wren]

please send those stamps to:

aw
310 Wakefield Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37922

thanks so much!

[Bek Geach]

Hear HEar... **YOU** rock Gigi :)

OMG... Francis of Assisi is my favourite Saint too.
When I lived in Italy for a year, I lived right near Assisi, I went to a local theatre enjoyed (understatement) a show on the life of Francis of Assisi, they even had electric subtitles in english ... it was amazing.

I love this page... love this post.
LOVE the fact that I stopped by to read this today.
Perfect.
Love to you Gigi.
And thanks so much for your best wishes with Joshua.. he sure is a darling :)
Bx

[Wendi]

Lub lub lub your mini album. You are so darn creative -- i am always just amazed.

Thanks for sharing your artistry.
Wendi