Tuesday Tunes: Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song”

Editor’s Note: Song lyrics denoted in bold italics.


Generally, I like to think that I’m a pretty confident person, but true to my human form, I have my moments of doubt every now and then. It’s such a typical feeling, though, isn’t it? It’s sort of become so common place that we sometimes can’t even recognize it when we see those moments in ourselves, when we can’t seem to see through that cloud of smoke our doubts have blown in front of us. Maybe that’s why certain songs are so uplifting and inspiring to us…

Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song”
From Wildfire

Never mind that fact that Rachel Platten worked incredibly hard to get to where she is, even though some said she was too old and had missed her prime for a career in the music industry, I’m pretty sure “Fight Song” will get you through lots of hard times in life. There have been times in my life where I’ve felt incredibly small — and I’m not just referring to my height here!

Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
Into motion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion

You know that whole analogy of being a small fish in a big pond? That was me. I felt like everyone around me had it together and they were all in on some secret life hack from BuzzFeed that I hadn’t seen. What was their secret? What were they doing right that I was, apparently, doing wrong?

And all those things I didn’t say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?

For some reason, we sometimes stay quiet when we find ourselves especially confused — that’s how it was for me, anyway. It was like I was standing there frozen in that big, vast ocean, and no matter what I did, I just couldn’t seem to move. Maybe I didn’t want to in the first place? But then, I suppose, you just get to a point where you’re like, “ENOUGH ALREADY” and you find your — you guessed it! — fight…

This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I’m alright song
My power’s turned on
Starting right now I’ll be strong
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care if nobody else believes
‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me

I’ve had to reach deep, deep, deep down into my soul sometimes to find it, but that inner fight IS there. It’s that drive that gives you the confidence you need to take on that ocean — and the world as a whole. It helps you go from the sidelines to the center ring in one fell swoop. It helps you break free, becoming the person you were meant to be.

So shine on, friends! And always FIGHT… xoxo

Love Lounge: Why Is It So Hard To Accept Compliments?

Compliments are a funny thing, aren’t they? They’re paradoxical, even. I mean, think about it: They’re supposed to be these big, positive statements that are meant to make you feel better about yourself. But more often than not, any time someone gives you a compliment, even if it’s just a simple “Great job today at that meeting,” a huge gulp forms in your throat as you struggle to smile and say “thank you.” You feel a bit uncomfortable, to say the least.

Uncomfortable. Maybe that’s the right word to best describe how compliments make us feel. So we try to counter these positive words with negative replies, as if negating what was just said will somehow diffuse what we perceive to be an awkward situation.

It’s the opposite of the humble-brag because the last thing any of us wants to do is appear vain or overly self-confident. We work hard to become masters at the Art of Downplaying, and before we know it, we can brush off every compliment that comes our way — practically with ease and the utmost of effortless calm.

It’s almost as if we’re disconnected from everything we do, like the successes we have in life happen to us rather than being the result of something we did. We’re not talented. We’re the victims of random happenstance. We couldn’t possibly be the cause of our own good fortune — yet are, of course, the reason behind every single bad thing that’s ever happened to us. We’re bystanders in our own lives.

Last month, Refinery29 wrote a great trend piece on women and compliments, noting that while women can easily dispense compliments, accepting them is a completely different story.

“Women are typically harsh critics of themselves. So accepting compliments can be difficult if a woman is not self-confident, said Dr. Amy Wechsler, a board-certified dermatologist and psychiatrist. ” Women are brought up to apologize for their intellect and to deny positive comments about themselves. I think this is slowly changing, but it’s a hard habit to break.”

I know I’m not AT ALL immune to the Compliment Conundrum, either. It’s become a knee-jerk reaction for me to scrunch up my face and shrug off the “nonsense” whenever someone says something nice about me. Even if I’m inwardly proud of myself, I don’t want to appear too boastful to the outside world. And it’s sort of weird because I’m more comfortable about being proud of myself in the company of my family, but maybe that’s just because I’m much more relaxed and open with them. Is it the absence of shame here that makes the difference?

I suppose my point is this: It’s confusing enough trying to navigate the world these days without having to make such a show and effort to fend off genuine and harmless compliments. It’s much easier — and healthy — to accept them in the spirit with which they are given. Yes, it may take work to re-wire your brain, but I’m willing to bet the end result is more than worth it. So the next time someone compliments you on your sense of humor or your know-how when it comes to presidential trivia, stand tall, hold your head high and say those two little words out loud…

“Thank you.”

You’ll be glad you did.

[Photos via We Heart It]

5 Reasons I Love Being Home Alone

In the past, I’ve waxed poetic about the joys of dining a la solo — about how I find it utterly calming, about how I don’t understand why people dread it, about how I secretly like to eavesdrop on the conversations of the people around me. It’s all just one enjoyable experience.

Well, I feel the same way about being home alone. And what’s more, I always have. I’m a natural solitary hermit by nature, so I’m sure this has something to do with it, but I’ve never been more content than when I’ve talked my mom and Janelle into running some errands, have ushered them out of the house and have a long afternoon stretched in front of me. Don’t get me wrong, I love them dearly, but a girl’s got to have her freedom. You know, let her hair down every once in awhile. I got an extended taste of that sweet life during my Carefree Bachelorette Weekend and fear I am now addicted. Here are five reasons having the house to yourself rocks in a major way…


1. You can sing at the top of your lungs: Not only is the music of choice a continuous spin of my favorite hits, but there’s no one home to tell me to stop singing! There’s no one saying, “Melissa, stop singing!” Or asking, “Melissa, do you ever stop singing?” Obviously, my answer to that last question is NO. I mean, I have to live out my pop star fantasy somehow, right? So I figure they calls for lots of singing — everything from Taylor Swift to Carrie Underwood to the Grease soundtrack.

2. The chance to be as silly (or as lazy!) as you want: The beauty of being home alone is that you don’t have to answer to anyone about your behavior, however odd it may seem. It’s a virtual free-for-all full of endless possibilities. So you want to eat Lucky Charms for lunch? Go for it. Don’t feel like combing your hair? Well, it’s not like anyone is going to see you anyway. I could even make like Tom Cruise and get wild and crazy — like his character in Risky Business, not like his infamous couch-jumping incident.

3. No one will give you a strange look when you start talking to yourself: I’m a HUGE proponent of talking to yourself when it comes to getting stuff done. Heck, I’m my own sports caster in that I can usually be heard giving a play-by-play of exactly what I’m doing when I’m doing it (thanks for passing on that lovely trait, Mom!), and I like having the freedom of being able to express my frustrations about my laptop without any glaring looks. It’s a glorious freedom unlike anything I’ve ever known, actually.

4. I can have hours of uninterrupted writing time: Too many times in the past, I’ve set myself up at the kitchen table ready to write, only to hear those sounds — the familiar creaking of the garage door, slamming of car doors and shuffling of feet. That could only mean two things. One, my mom and Janelle were home. And two, I wouldn’t be getting much more writing done for the rest of the day. But when all is quiet on the home front? That’s when the creative juices really start flowing and the real writing work can begin.


5. The TV remote: I think this one speaks for itself. There’s really no explanation needed here.

Do you enjoy being home alone, friends,or do you find it lonely? Refreshing? Intimidating? Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some plotting to do… xoxo

An Ode To Feminism In Fashion Form

I’m a sucker for fashion that makes a statement — one of my dreams is to make a line of t-shirts with my blog’s tagline on them, after all. So when I came across this forward-thinking round-up of feminist shirts, I immediately wanted to scoop them all up and wear them proudly every single day of the week! A few of my favorites I’ve been eyeing lately, starting with this CEO t-shirt, $29.95, which I’ve seen popping up all over the place…

Women Belong In The House and The Senate ($34.99),

Girl Power, $32

Pizza Rolls, Not Gender Roles, $29.95

Cats Against Catcalls, $29.95

Feminist Hearts, $29.95

We Can Do It, $29.95

Femme Ain’t Frail, $29.95

This Is Why I’m Hot, $29.95


They would be the perfect conversation started, don’t you think? Let’s rock on like the fierce and powerful women that we ALL are!!! #GirlPower #LikeABoss

10 Random Thoughts I Had During My First Day Back at “Work”

We’re already practically through with the first month of 2016, and here I am, just finishing up my first day back at “work.” Well, I suppose that’s not entirely true, which is why I put work in quotes. I’ve been working, make no mistake about that; I’ve just been doing it at home, from my beautiful perch at the kitchen table.

You may remember awhile ago when I told you about my routine of going to the library a couple times each week — yeah for change in scenery and productivity! Who knew? Anyway, after taking off the last month for the holidays, I figured this week was as good a time as any to start making my Monday/Wednesday pilgrimage back to the old place. I mean, you can only let yourself get sidetracked at home for so long before it becomes counterproductive, right? Of course right!

So, here I am! As anyone will likely tell you, the first day back after a long vacation — or weekend, for that matter — is sort of a shock to the system. It’s all a lot to get used to, this return to the old routine. You feel like a deer in the headlights, walking around in a daze and, yet, still fully attuned to everything around you. The overstimulation coupled with the out-of-it feeling doing somersaults in the pit of your stomach make for one heck of a combination. I imagine it would be akin to withdrawing from caffeine — that is, if I ever had the willpower to even try to ween myself from caffeine. But that’s another subject for another blog post.

Anyway, the thoughts kept coming in rapid fire throughout the day. Here, a sampling of my 10 favorites (because, really, if I listed them all, we’d be here all night, and ain’t nobody got time for that!)…

1. When did it get so sunny? Have I turned into a vampire or something? Side note: I’ve mastered the Art of Staying In The House. Seriously, I’ve turned it into quite the art form. My record is 19 consecutive days in the house, and that was just over the holidays! #Seriously #SorryNotSorry


2. Wow, people actually get up this early? It’s like a whole new world!


3. I hope my DVR is recording Dr. Phil; I need my daily dose of therapeutic insight.


4. Is that my stomach rumbling? Gosh, I’m hungry…is it lunch time yet?


5. I wonder what’s going on in the world of celebrity news right now?


6. Why didn’t I win the Powerball?


7. These college kids don’t know how good they have it in life! #YouthIsWastedOnTheYoung


8. What should I buy with my Amazon gift cards?


9. I’ve been working for a solid 20 minutes…time for a Twitter break!


10. Man, do I need a haircut. Hair, GET OUT OF MY EYES! This. Is. So. Annoying.


There you have it, friends! A little peek into my mind on a random Wednesday. What sorts of thoughts run through your head during the day? Care to share? xoxo