Practice What You Preach

I know I know, you've heard it before, and quite possibly from you mom, dad, priest (sorry good Catholic girl here), or other role model. But hey its hard ya know! I mean I tell my husband all the time not to use the word "hell" when speaking to the dog, but I tend to use it a lot. As in my inner monolugue with myself that goes something like this

Me: Well now that sounds like a good idea to walk into the middle of traffic
Inner Me: Why in the HELL would you do that?

I also tell my sister and BFF all the time that they should do this or that, or trust in their own thoughts, etc... but then I turn around and second-guess myself, or do exactly what I told them not to. In law, you tell clients to do this or that, like don't blow if caught in a DUI/DWI, or don't say anything while you are in the back of a police car.... (yeah I know you're thinking what idiot does this... they all do!).

Then I think of the lessons we teach our kids (not that I have any). Nonetheless I have friends with kids and I hear them say eat your veggies (but how many moms and dads eat theirs?), don't swear (only to say Sh*t when they drop something), or the best they say use the Golden Rule (and then proceed to gossip for an hour with their girlfriends). See practicing what you preach is hard work! I mean who do I think I am? Jesus?

So, I try to live my life more on the practice what you preach, except when that stupid idiot driving in front of you cuts you off because she is putting on makeup and texting while driving in traffic! (you do not want to see that me... she's scary!). I know that I have my faults: I gossip, I mean I love a good juicy story, I have been known to use the occasional bad word, and yes I have been known to nag my husband.... The important lesson is that I know I have these faults. I accept them, I apologize, and remind myself to be better tomorrow. I also preach those things that I know I do. Tolerance, forgiveness, acceptance.

I tolerate those different than me, in color, creed, thoughts, values. I forgive those who have hurt me because God forgives me. I accept who I am --  my strengths, weaknesses, faults, my past, present, and future.

Each day is a new chance to practice who you want to be. It's a new beginning, a new page of the book of you. It does not matter who you were yesterday, or even in the last 30 minutes. You get to practice the sermon that is you. ~The Illegal Blonde