I’m not a big fan of using slang and acronyms in texts and emails. I like to write out the entire word if I can and will only abbreviate if I am running out of time or room. I understand it’s cheaper to use the acronyms but I miss the use of words. It’s the writer in me.
When I was jogging I began thinking about LOL, or LMAO or ROTFLMAO (laugh out loud, laugh my a** off, roll on the floor laughing my a** off) and came up with my own version of LOL (also applies to LMAO):
LAUGH out LOUD:
I love to laugh and for years I cried more than I laughed. That has all changed. I laugh on a daily basis. I laugh at my dog. I laugh at myself. If I’m having a blue day I’ll watch a few episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway? It always makes me laugh out loud.
I love teaching! Kids are weird little people. Weird in a creative, funny, crazy, silly, laugh out loud kind of way. I laugh with my friends and I love making others laugh. Laughter is a gift you give yourself and you can give to others and it’s totally free! Don’t hold back, be silly and LAUGH! It’s proven to be good for your health and there’s not one calorie, one pulled muscle or one medical procedure!
LIVE out LOUD:
What does that mean? It means that you are honoring your true self. If you like to wear bright colored hats, then wear bright colored hats! If you like to eat with your fingers, then eat with your fingers! Live your life how you want to live! Be authentic to who you are. Live without second-guessing yourself or worrying about what other people think. Be adventurous, creative and embrace the opportunities around you. Create more opportunities! The life you want to live is waiting for you. Don’t stop yourself because you are afraid or insecure. Do it anyway. It gets easier with each step. Live OUT LOUD! Live in color! Embrace who you are!
LEARN out LOUD:
Ask questions. Don’t shy away from learning something just because you think you should know it already. Every single person on this planet is learning something. Even the smartest person on earth has something to learn. It might not be physics but it could be compassion, generosity or connecting with humans on an emotional level. We all have something to learn, so LEARN out LOUD. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, get answers and be curious to learn more! Life is about growth and you can’t grow if you remain stagnant. Your spirit, your core, the very essence of who you are will demand that you continue to grow so why not make that decision for yourself. Challenge yourself. Learn about what makes you tick. Explore areas of interest. Make goals and complete them. Share what you’ve learned so we learn too. It’s a gift.
LOVE out LOUD:
This is a big one for me. I was taught at an early age that love holds secrets and therefore included shame and guilt. As an adult, I continued that pattern. It was terrible. Toxic. Profoundly damaging to the very core of who I am.
LOVE SHOULD NEVER INVOLVE SHAME, GUILT OR CONTROL. Those emotions won’t allow you to LOVE out LOUD, so if that is the case for you, look at your life and make some changes. Loving out loud is a freedom everyone has but not everyone expresses. LOVE YOURSELF, and then love others. It is the best feeling in the world.
Open up your heart and let the love OUT.
Open up your heart and let the love IN.
It’s a gift and a blessing. Guarding your heart too much or building walls so you won’t get hurt, ultimately does just that. It limits your experience. Trust your instinct, listen to your inner voice and you will be just fine.
Loving out loud changes the way the world works. For example, there was a person at work that I found to be very difficult to approach. From my perspective, this person had an air of superiority and it really bugged me. We never spoke. It was awkward. One day I discovered this person had started going to the gym and making changes in their health. I ran down the hall, wrapped my arms around them and said, “I’m so proud of you!” Their demeanor completely changed. Their face lit up and from that point onward we have changed the energy from awkward to kindness. It was that easy!
LOL my friends! LAUGH! LIVE! LEARN! LOVE! And do it all OUT LOUD!!
With a smile,
Tina
