“Baby, you’re a firework…Just own the night // Like the Fourth of July”
Happy (almost) 4th of July – it’s a party in the USA! Celebrating early with a lil’ patriotic Monday Mantra – break out the sparklers + redwhiteandblue! The 4th is one of mine + every other American’s favorite holidays, cos it really is this awesome, unifying celebration of all that we too often take for granted. Namely, freedom. Freedom – what a gift.
Fun fact: Before the Declaration of Independence was even signed, John Adams envisioned fireworks as being part of the party. Fireworks just *scream* WOO! They’re pretty darn close to magic, if ya ask me. And rightly so. We lovelovelove ’em so much cos they release what’s called “eustress” – a mix of euphoria and positive/pleasant stress that comes when our body experiences fear with the knowledge that we’re still safe. Like riding a roller coaster. So, this Monday Mantra is dedicated to ‘Murica.
The next time you need a positive pickmeup, remember this:
Baby, you’re a firework.
Baby, you’re a firework, in the least-cheesy, least-Katy-Perry way possible. Here’s why:
A firework is just a stick before it’s lit. Just this stick full of black powder and a compound, packed with powerful potential. It’s got “stars” (the compound mixture), a shell (the container holding the stars), black powder (propellant that ignites), a bursting charge (ignites the stars), a mortar (the tube holding the firework), and a fuse (what gets lit and gives it air time before exploding).
That’s it. Before it’s lit…that’s it. And it’s such a transformation from being Exhibit A, a dusty stick, to Exhibit B lighting up a night sky.
People are like that.
First: We’ve got all of these bits + pieces inside of us, unknown to many – even unknown to ourselves sometimes. We’re not just empty shells walking around – we’re full of stuff, and potential to explode into whatever direction we set forth. It’s this compounded effect of anything + everything we’ve ever experienced in life up to where we’re at right now. And somehow, it all combines perfectly to make us who we are – sometimes jagged around the edges, but perfectly imperfect nonetheless.
But we have to light our own fuses and let our light out.
Cheesy, but true. Your light is that undeniable spark of joy deep down – no matter how deep down it might be right now – that is the essence of your being. The IT factor of just being you – the thing that makes you different than the other 6-7 billion people on the planet.
Stop waiting for permission from someone else to be your best self right now.
Don’t hold it inside. And don’t wait for someone else to light the fuse. Too often, we become afraid or nervous or skeptical of our own success, and we wait for that go-ahead from someone to remind us that is, in fact, okay (+ GOOD) to be ourselves, to go as hard + fabulous as possible, to openly live as our best selves. We worry about someone not liking us for it, and we worry about others’ insecurities getting the best of them and affecting us. Someone may see you killing it and feel worse about themselves – and maybe they won’t like you for it. But at the end of the day, is this your life or theirs? You don’t have enough hours in the day to worry about how everyone and their mom will perceive you when you’re really sparkling in your own spotlight. Ain’t nobody got time for that. And really, it’s just not the point of any of it.
Fireworks don’t exist to just outshine each other – they exist to all be enjoyed by all different kinds of people in all different kinds of circumstances.
You have every right to be your own firework and go as high, fast, + far as you possibly can…and so does the next girl. You can both do it – literally alongside each other – without being consumed by the desire to burn the other out first. Wasting time on that will hurt you, too, and YOU won’t shine as brightly or go as high/fast/far, either. It takes energy to burn bright. Use your energy wisely + positively.
There are different kinds of fireworks, of course – different colors, different displays, different shapes + sounds. Some high, some low, some crackle, some boom – the whole nine yards. So don’t think you need to be like the others.
They perfectly complement the saying “you can be the sweetest peach, but there’s still gonna be someone who doesn’t like peaches.” Someone is going to prefer the loudest, brightest firework, and another will want the smaller, softer display. It doesn’t mean either are better than the other – it just means they shine in different ways, meant for different folks to enjoy.
We don’t really see or appreciate fireworks when it’s light – we need darkness to fully appreciate them.
Sometimes, a person’s true colors don’t always show in the light.
Similarly, sometimes the best of you can come out in the worst of situations – the light is revealed in the dark.
When you see someone else sparkling in the light of an achievement or win, don’t begrudge them or internalize it at all as reflective of your own success or lack thereof. Just see it, acknowledge it, compliment it, admire it. Hope that it goes as high as it should. View it as an objective third party outsider with a heart.
Then, keep focusing on your own firework.
Keep working on what’s on your own inside, so that your outside is set for the most colorful, glorious, joyful explosion when your own time comes.
Baby, you’re a firework. Don’t forget it.
What are you doing for the 4th of July?
We’re heading to my parents for a pool party + cookout. And guess who just got a unicorn floatie???? THIS GIRL. So if ya need me, just look for the majestic floating unicorn… 😉 Have a happy happy happy 4th, friends!
P.S. ICYMI, this roundup of links, things, sales, + songs from June is FIAHHHH.
P.P.S. It might be too late to grab your 4th outfit, but it’s never too late for blue + white stripes. They’re basically always in season + style, so grab this (as seen in this blog post) ASAP.
P.P.P.S. Rounded up a few of my patriotic favorites for y’all – #MURICA!
