2012's first edition of "Hey, it's ok"

As I lay in bed recently, the prospect of sleep a million miles away, I was struck by the fact that at the moment I feel like, in some regards, I'm straddling the dived between heaven and hell (proverbially speaking, of course).

There is so much awesomeness on the horizon in my life right now and such a great deal that I'm excited and hopeful about. At the same time though, for past couple of weeks I've been going through stuff on the medical front that, to put it mildly, can only be called barbaric.

There's really never a good time for medical flare-ups and new problems to arise, but right now, with less than a month to go until our moving day, is really not a stellar time for this.

Nevertheless, I do not go down without a fight and believe strongly in perseverance and positive thought, so as best I can, I'm trudging through these hours. Allowing myself a few tears or an exasperated sigh when needed, but also remembering and trying to focus on all the reasons I have to smile.

{Call me an eternal optimist, but I like to believe that ultimately heaven wins out. Utterly darling vintage angel and demon figurine photograph via MissConduct on Flickr.}

 

That late night thought, and the symphony of emotions I've been juggling lately, made me think  though that it was time for this year's first edition of the occasionally occurring Chronically Vintage post series called "Hey, it's ok" (if you're not familiar with the series, be sure to check out the first two posts from last August and October, respectfully).

There are so many big worries and problems that come our way all the time, and as such I strongly feel that it's vital to not get to hung up about the smaller concerns that appear frequently, too. This series of posts is all about the universe (or least yours truly) granting you permission not to sweat the tiny things - especially if there's something massive troubling you at the moment, too.

 

*Hey, it's ok*

 

...if you're still eating your way through the leftover Christmas cookies in the freezer.

...to ruthlessly clean out your feed reader list from time-to-time.

...that you still love - and actively use - your record player, VCR, or retro boombox.

...if you're parenting style is the polar opposite of your own parents.

...for you to make a conscious effort to carve out some much needed "me time" for yourself at least once a week, if not daily.

...to secretly delight in the extra curves you develop if your weight increases a little.

...if you don't watch the evening news very often. Sometimes the last thing any of us wants to hear or think about is more bad news.

...to rush outside in your rain boots and jump in puddles, like you used to a child, after a big downpour.

...that you can't name three new songs that came out last year, but could list at least twenty-five of them from the 40s and 50s off the top of your head right now.

...to do whatever you need to bring the joy you deserve into your life.

 

♥ ♥ ♥

Life isn't always a bed of roses. Sometimes even on the sunniest of days you can spot a grey storm cloud poking its head out over the horizon.

The important thing, the really critical point however, is to cut yourself some slack, hold onto hope, and keep looking for ways to improve whatever is troubling you. I fully understand that this often much easier said than done, but it's rarely flat out impossible.

So while the forces above and below continue to duke it out in own little world, I'll try my hardest to do just that - and hope that if something heavy is troubling you right now, sweet dears, you'll be able to do the same.

Special Halloween edition of Hey, it's OK!

✯ Day 302 of Vintage 365 ✯

Earlier this year I wrote the first in what is to be an ongoing, occasionally occurring, series of posts called Hey, it's OK, modeled after a similar style of post that appears regularly in Glamour magazine.

More so, than perhaps any other post I've ever written for Chronically Vintage, I received private emails from people either relating personal stories that tied into what I said in that post or simply letting me know that they really enjoyed the idea of being told that things were "OK" for a change.

I strongly believe that most of all heap far too much unnecessary judgement on ourselves and fall pry to undo stress over what others may thing of us, so I can see can completely see why that post resonated so deeply with others.

I'm all about positive thinking and cutting yourself a much needed break, so in carrying on that spirit, yet also factoring in our delightful countdown to October 31st, today's post is a special Halloween themed edition of "Hey, it's OK", which I hope you'll enjoy and feel extra positive about yourself after reading.

...to completely adore making, not buying, your own costume every year.

...to love picking out the perfect Halloween pumpkins, but then much prefer to watch others carve them.

...to start planning your Halloween party in July.

...to be so excited the night before Halloween you can hardly sleep!

...to have no desire to wear a costume (be it nurse, cat, devil, police officer, or whatever) that looks like it would scarcely be big enough to fit your five year old niece.

...to stuff yourself silly on on caramel apples, kettle corn, iced sugar cookies, and mountains of candy all day on the 31st, without the slightest twinge of regret the next day.

...to have so many Halloween decorations you need to store them in multiple spots throughout the house.

...to delight in watching, and knowing every word of, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, each year.

...to still secretly fight the urge, tooth and nail, to go out trick-or-treating every year!

...to start counting down to next Halloween the moment the clock strikes 12:00am on November 1st.





{This All Hallows Eve, remember to cut loose, channel your childhood, and have a festive blast! Vintage Halloween postcard image via About.com.}



During the holidays, perhaps more than most other times of the year, it's important to try not to add to our personal stress loads. To cut ourselves a break and try to focus on the joyful spirit of the day.

Halloween isn't Christmas, New Year's or Easter. You don't need to cook a huge feast, worry about sending out tons of cards or buying countless gifts, it's a night of merriment and delight, when we get to reconnect with our youth and celebrate the timeless fun of jack-o-lanterns, scary movies, spooky costumes, miniature chocolate bars, and things that go bump in the night!

Because sometimes we all need to hear, "Hey, it's Ok!"

✯ Day 235 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

There is something profoundly important about feeling as though your actions - be they commonplace or one-off occurrences - are acceptable, both socially and within the the realm of your loved ones.

I grew up in a home that I would consider to be quite strict. There were rules upon rules atop even more rules and limitations for nearly every action. The military, I often felt, could have taken a lesson on rules and order from the "laws" laid down in my house.

{Vintage image - albeit a rather charming one - of a little

girl scolding her doll via King Kong Photo on Flickr.}

 

Rules and guidelines are undoubtedly important, but there's no doubt that the ridiculous, controlling rigidity I grew up with was excessive.

As a child I clearly remember wishing, on many occasions, to not feel so conscious, so afraid, so untrusting of my own actions (and we're talking ultra mundane things here - not "I just dyed my hair bright pink, wonder what my folks will say" kind of level). To this day I battle with a strong fear of confrontation as a result of my upbringing.

As such, when I read or here things in which people grant others the right to accept and be fine with the choices they make in their life (even if such posts or spoken accounts are intended to be humorous) it nearly moves me to tears and usually makes me smile, feeling more at peace with the world.

While I can't claim to be a frequent reader of Glamour Magazine (in its modern iteration, that is - sign me up for any and all vintage copies!), they run a frequently occurring post called "Hey, it's Ok!" in which the author points out a list of actions some people take and tell them that such activities/behaviours/choices/etc are ok. To get a sense of what I mean, check out this November 2008 edition of "Hey, it's Ok!".

I think most of us apply way to many rules to our lives. We deny or hide certain things that make us happy or that we partake in, for fear that we'll be judged or called out on our actions. No doubt this has been true of human beings since just about the dawn of time, but sadly even after all these years, we've only gotten a bit better at cutting ourselves some much needed slack.

To that extent, I thought it would be uplifting - and fun - to occasionally put together a "Hey, it's OK!" post that ties into our vintage loving lifestyle, but also life in general.

My hope is that it will elicit a positive reaction from you, whether that's merely a quick smile or a more profound sense that someone has granted you permission to doing (or be, or say) something something you weren't confident about.

And so without further ado, I present the first edition of Chronically Vintage's Hey, it's Ok! list.

...to own 23 dresses and 11 skirts, but only one pair of pants (that you almost never wear!).

...to have not watched a single new movie in two years, but know TCM's programming schedule by heart.

...to not give the slightest care in the world when someone casts an an odd look your way for wearing vintage, from head-to-toe, in public.

...to enjoy writing good old-fashioned letters more than emails.

...to have a lengthy, soul cleansing, no-holds-bar cry from time-to-time (it really does make you feel better!).

...to wear a 1930s dress, with 1970s shoes, fifties style hair and a new purse you bought last week.

...to have fourteen different tubs of red lipstick in your make-up bag, but reach for the exact same one everyday (hello, Russian Red!).

...to secretly enjoy it - and keeping smiling to yourself about it all day - when you get a cat-call.

...to take someone up on their offer the next time they volunteer to do something for you.

...to love yourself unabashedly precisely as you are right this very moment.

 

I don't know if I'll ever be able to truly cut myself the slack I deserve, but I'm working on it. No (at the risk of sounding cliché) sweating the small stuff (too much). I’m trying to embrace those things - and people - who make my heart glad, and let go of those who don't. I've opened up my creative side more so in the last year than ever before in my life, and have gotten better at not letting other people's opinions of me impact me so deeply.

It is my sincere hope that if you find yourself battling with similar feeling, actions and thoughts, you'll join me in trying to accept that you - and the things you do, way you chose to live your life, and actions you take - are Ok! Because, I'm here to tell you, chances are, they really and truly are.