Got a compliment the other day on my colorful nail polish design. Had that person looked closer, she would have seen that I had on those stick-on nail polish strips. Some were a tad crooked, some of my nails are too short, and some of the strips didn't cover the entire nail bed.

Got a compliment the other day on my cream-colored summer hat. Had that person looked closer, she would have seen that it was too loose for my head and I had used two bobby-pins to keep it from slipping.

Sometimes our wardrobe efforts include a safety pin to hold closed a buttoned bloused. Sometimes we wear the shirt with a small rip in the back of the neck where we pulled off the tag. Sometimes we add stretchy bike shorts underneath a short dress so as not to show our lady parts.

Women use all kinds of stupid tricks to save - and avoid - wardrobe malfunctions: a hair band on our top jeans' button; pads in the back of our heels to prevent slipping; glasses' frame superglued; black marker on a black shirt to cover a tiny bleach spot; double-sided sticky tape to repair a torn hem; nail polish applied to a pantyhose run.

[Ladies, you know what I'm talking about. You own a few tricks, I'm sure.]

If people looked closer at our clothes and shoes, they would chuckle. If people looked closer at our souls, they would not.

We often ask friends and others, "How are you?" But do we actually listen to their answers?

Friends and others ask us, "How are you?" But do we always tell people the truth?

Fake it 'til you make it - something like that.

Just like we attempt to hide sloppy nail polish and safety pins; we do not always show people what's "underneath." We humans are very adept at hiding the deep junk under the surfaces of our (fake) smiles.

Sometimes we force a happy facial expression - when smiling is the last thing we feel like doing ... when we are actually feeling hopelessness or sadness. [Remember a previous snippet when we just had a spat in the car with a spouse, then walked all happy into a party full of people?]

If you look closer ... you may notice someone's pain.

If you look closer ... you may understand someone's hurt.

If you look closer ... you may recognize loneliness.

If you look closer ... you may see that someone is angry.

We hide our feelings for several reasons:

1) We don't feel comfortable - or safe - sharing with a specific person.

2) We lack confidence in the emotion; or think we don't "have the right" to feel what we're feeling.

3) We don't want to draw attention to our inner turmoil.

4) We simply don't want to "get into it" right now.

Could we go the extra step to find out what's underneath? Draw the friend into conversation? Really listen to the "How are you?" reply? Help sooth them if they're willing to share? See what it is that the "safety pin" is holding together?

If you look closer ... you'll see what I mean.

"That's a BEAUTIFUL Free Little Library!! Paula is DELIGHTED, I'm sure, and enjoys watching from above as many people peruse it. These little libraries bring back a nice small town feel." :-) 

 ~ Kelly M in Maryland

"I think this column was very prize worthy!! Love real books and the library. There is a little free library near where I play pickleball - that is very convenient. We pick out books when it is not our turn to play!"

~ Barb F in Maryland

"Love the library!! And I also love an actual book to read - not digital form."

~ Gwen in Maryland

"When you talk about reading, you are speaking my love language. I was a library aide in junior high school and thought about becoming a librarian. I loved those library catalogs. During some stressful last-minute research in college, we had some hard-core laughing fits. Even if we didn’t wait until the last minute, we had good times at the library. Some of the most fun times with my sisters were spent at Barnes & Noble. I wanted to get married at the Pratt Library. Yes, being surrounded by books makes me very happy.

I read a lot in my youth but didn’t take the time out of my busy schedule as an adult to read that often. I was still buying books and have several bookcases filled with all kinds of books. To save space, I got a Nook and started building my e-book library. But I didn’t really start reading consistently until I lost one of my sisters. After that, I turned to reading for solace. 

I started out buying e-books but my reading appetite grew pretty big so I finally got my library card. Since I retired, I’ve gradually increased my reading and am up to about 300 books each year. I do love the feel of a physical book but my carpal tunnel makes holding one for any period difficult. Plus, e-books are convenient. Another positive side benefit of reading is that it distracts my brain from hearing my tinnitus.

I do buy certain authors and deeply discounted romance books but use the library and Kindle Unlimited for most of my reading. I hope libraries will always be there and I regularly donate to my county library. I love that Paula was able to set up a Little Free Library. Just looking at them makes me smile. Definitely Read On!!"

~ Cindy B in Maryland

(in her own world and with her nose in a book)



people take from you

only as much as you allow