They grew up together. He’s the really cool jock and she the shy overachiever. Still, he asks her to the prom...
“Why would you ask me? You should go with Kim, she’s popular and beautiful. She’s like you with breasts.”
His warm laugh lights up her heart. “I love your sense of humor!” He looks at her earnestly. “I don’t want to go with Kim, I want to go with you.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying. Everyone will laugh if you go with me. I’m not good enough to stand next to you on such a special night.”
“In my eyes you are.”
“Trust me, your eyes are wrong!”
He nods. “For what it’s worth, I did believe in you. But you’ve convinced me not to.” He walks away from her for the last time.
_________
Often we undervalue ourselves and even argue our negative opinion. In the process we convince someone we’re not good enough. Their acceptance of our flawed premise, reinforces our own negative beliefs. Eventually, we’re not even good enough for ourselves.
However the converse holds true: convince people you are good enough, and eventually you will be!
“Why would you ask me? You should go with Kim, she’s popular and beautiful. She’s like you with breasts.”
His warm laugh lights up her heart. “I love your sense of humor!” He looks at her earnestly. “I don’t want to go with Kim, I want to go with you.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying. Everyone will laugh if you go with me. I’m not good enough to stand next to you on such a special night.”
“In my eyes you are.”
“Trust me, your eyes are wrong!”
He nods. “For what it’s worth, I did believe in you. But you’ve convinced me not to.” He walks away from her for the last time.
_________
Often we undervalue ourselves and even argue our negative opinion. In the process we convince someone we’re not good enough. Their acceptance of our flawed premise, reinforces our own negative beliefs. Eventually, we’re not even good enough for ourselves.
However the converse holds true: convince people you are good enough, and eventually you will be!
Thank you for a beautiful post! I often sell myself short, not realising that by doing so, I unintentionally make my loved ones feel unimportant by devaluing their opinions. This ends today!
ReplyDeleteLike an hour ago, I quarreled with my best friend because of this. She doesn't believe in herself. It is difficult to instill in her the confidence she needs and make her believe that she can be good enough for people to see a good side of her.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderfully written short story. One that means a lot. I'm sure this is a good example for her to be persuaded.^^,)
Or perhaps you already are :) Great reminder! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnother powerful post, one that everyone can relate to in one sense or another. My heart always smiles when I see you have a new post to read ...
ReplyDeletealways smiles for you,
(((Louis)))
ReplyDeleteAs always, I am floored by your writing and this one was no exception...You are so talented and gifted and I am honored to have you in my life my friend :)
What a great "wake up" call for negative days. Thank you for this post!
ReplyDeleteSo true! This was a hard lesson to learn but my life improved 100 billion times when I learned it!
ReplyDeleteoh wow. that was unexpectefly touching. Great work man! cant wait for your future posts!
ReplyDeleteself esteem is a delicate matter, is it not?
ReplyDelete~Silver
Reflections/
Tantalizing Treats
i've been meaning to ask whether you're planning to publish these entries one day. because i wouldn't be surprised to see a book from you one day. and if it really does happen, i'll definitely buy the book but you gotta sign it so i get bragging rights.
ReplyDeleteanyway, this post is great, it made me think about accepting other people's compliments instead of being a little skeptical about them.
beautiful post Louis! to be honest, i am so much like her and my friends often try telling me not to be like this! i guess i never really took any of what they said too seriously. maybe i should! :)
ReplyDeletehow very astute. if there's one thing i've learnt it's this... if someone pays you a compliment, smile and say thank you. no more. no less. never argue with a gift of words. and try to believe it. people observe things in you, you never can see yourself. it pays to take note of these things, and build on them. for your own self-confidence, if nothing else...
ReplyDeleteYou are showing us your soul,..., and through that helped us to find ours...
ReplyDeleteThank you.
ReplyDelete'Cause words are failing me right now :)
Love,
Good post, it's somehow more complicated ( sadly ) after school when there's bigger socializing out there. Now the labels are blur, people get more insecure and everything.
ReplyDeleteThat is me in a nutshell, trying hard to change, tx 4 da post though! food for thought!
ReplyDeleteThis is so true. I wish I don't undervalue myself in front of people, but that's the usual response to compliments and that situation you posted on. Sometimes it's so hard to picture oneself as others do; most of the time we see ourselves worse than we really are. Time to change that attitude!
ReplyDeleteI know you don't do awards on your blog but I left you one on mine this morning...Hope all is well my friend (((hugs)))
ReplyDeleteThanks a bunch for the beautiful post. I really enjoy following.
ReplyDeleteI was reading some stuff about an artist I like today. She has always seemed so confident to me-so I was SHOCKED when she talked about how she always feels like a fake-like she'll be found out. It's strange cuz I would have NEVER thought she would see herself as not good enough. To me, She's the TOP! She does a great job of projecting an image of confidence and self-assuredness.
ReplyDeleteIts 100% true..
ReplyDeletewow, i am actually speachless, it is so true, it made me think about myslef, it is very often when I try to conince people that I am not good enough...;/ your topic really made me think, thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad reality.
ReplyDeleteShe was probably too good for the jock anyway. Joke. Always like your posts. I think I oughta reevaluate blog success...hmm...
ReplyDeleteRight, I'm at work now and I read this and I''m smiling. I'm thinking, doesnt the girl want the guy to continue asking her no matter what to make her feel special.
ReplyDeleteCause hey, deep down almost every girl out there wants to be asked to the prom by a hot guy. ALMOST every girl.
But girls tend to get over board. And guys tend to get lazy from tiring.
Either ways, thanks for the post. Whoever, the characters are even if they're fiction. I can so imagine them. Especially on a 90210 espisode...:)
Love loves and all smiles,
Natasha
from trying i mean...
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing and I love reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteI really like the converse it true too. Very well put. Love it.
ReplyDeletethank you for this one..i really needed it..
ReplyDeletenice lines i like it...
ReplyDelete