Taken surprise by a new cheerleader in my life.

For years I have been my own personal cheerleader.

"You got this!"
"You look great!"
"Go for it!"
"Apply for that job!"
"You are smart!"
"You deserve this!"

Not that I am not surrounded by amazing friends and family, I am. They are ultimately the most supportive and kind and all in all the best people ever. They really are.

However, all of that being said, as a single person no matter how much you are loved there is still an echo of loneliness. Not in a horrifyingly depressing way, just a matter-of-fact-I-go-home-alone kind of way. And if we are all completely honest... this isn't the single person's plight. A lot of married/dating people have relaxed back into a lack of cheering for one's partner in life and have become dependent upon their own encouragement.

So...

I have become a great cheerleader for myself. I think everyone should learn how to be their own personal cheerleaders! Not if, but when you are surrounded by people that aren't shouting support you shouldn't let that stop you from accomplishing everything you want, you should know and speak the words that will make you feel like pure awesomeness. We should be our biggest fans. We should teach our children that they are amazing. Not in a self-righteous, selfish, better than others way but in a potential filled, talented, strong, secure and full of ability and promise kind of way.

The other day a friend of mine likened the idea of being our own biggest supporter to the actual idea of being a personal cheerleader because of this recent experience...

So here I am (melissa here) cheering myself along and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, there is a voice behind me shouting my praises. . . I turn around . . . and there is this handsome fella cheering for me. . .

"Excuse me... I got this."
"Huh?"
"You don't need to say those nice things, I can say them."
"I know I don't NEED to say them, you ARE those things."

... no words... just a smile.

I was/still am taken back by his cheers but am slowly letting him cheer with me (and sometimes, cheering instead of me). Turns out that is NOT an easy thing to do. To let someone cheer you on. It is humbling and beautiful when you let them stand next to you and when you let them help you see what sometimes you cannot see because of life or experiences or other people.

So here is what I am saying.
Be your own cheerleader!
But also let others cheer you on!