House Beautiful

Go Get ‘Em, Tigers!

I ran across this photo last night during the wee hours, after I had finished some work and was doing what I do best when I’m tired, which is mindless Facebook wandering, and occasionally cyberstalking.  Hey, whatever.  Once in awhile, everybody needs to know what’s going on in the life of the girl who sat next to you in the 2nd grade, wore a pink corduroy vest and stuck her tongue out at you every day.  Wassup, Desiree Williams! 

(photo via mon ami, Mathilde)

Anyhoo, this snapshot was a friend’s post-Chinese-takeout iPhone upload with the caption, “I’m framing this one.”  And I thought to myself, you go on with your bad self, girlfriend.  It struck me as extraordinarily poignant since said friend is currently FLOURISHING in the face of what has been a legitimate train wreck in the middle of a tsunami in her personal life…  the mind-numbingly painful kind that would’ve sent most people straight to the couch with some Ho-Ho’s, fried chicken, and Bridget Jones’ Diary on repeat for a year.  But this girl picked herself up, dusted herself off, made an ocean of sweet lemonade out of some crusty, RANK lemons, and is embracing everything around her with childlike enthusiasm.  I’m currently in awe of her.

Another friend of mine found out last night that he got into one of the top MBA programs in the country; one that has a 15% acceptance rate…  YIKES.  It was a longshot, and a year-long, grueling application process, but one of those things he said he just had to gun for, even if he came up short.  And, whatta ya know!  In a few weeks, he’ll be shopping for a new Trapper Keeper and some #2 pencils.  Giddyup, Big Red!

The fortune cookie quote reminds me of something my pseudo-big-sister and co-blogger, Karrie, used to say to me when I was in college:  “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?”  …and something one of my college volleyball coaches yelled to me one day during a vomit-inducing set of I’m-going-to-keel-over-any-minute-now marathon sprints:  “Your body is capable of so much more than you think it is.”  It’s all part of the same ball of wax, and it all boils down to the same thing:  If there’s something you want, GO FOR IT.  You only live once, and you really ARE capable of so much more than you probably realize.  Put yourself out there, and give it your best shot.  You’ll NEVER know unless you try, and almost every time, you’ll be surprised to find out what you’re made of. 

xoxo,

 

4 Responses to “Go Get ‘Em, Tigers!”


  • Ok Agnes,
    This is the best post EVER. My friends make me proud. You, because of your brilliant writing and ability to put into words what Mathilde is going through in a super uplifting almost pump fisting manner. Mathilde, for everything she already has and will continue to overcome. You girls make me proud. I love you all. Keep up the good work.
    Fifs

  • SB…

    How funny that such a tiny piece of paper, stumbled upon randomly after a greasy meal of chicken lo mein that I shouldn’t have been scarfing down in the first place, would be such a source of inspiration. I have looked at that fortune a thousand times and thanked fate for putting it in my hands. Little things like that are what push me, as are hand-written notes that show up randomly in the mail (like yours), texts at 2am, songs recommended by a close friend that quickly become my new fave, big glasses of wine and vibrant conversation. And my dogs, of course. My friends are my inspiration, my source of wisdom, and the ones who drive me to want to DO more, simply by being who they are. You are an amazing woman, and I thank you and KBags and CS for being such strong women. Rock on, covet girl. You make me want to be a better person! You’ll never know til you TRY…

    Love you
    Marina aka Mathilde

  • I received this fortune awhile ago:
    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3823945&l=851b962266&id=653422868

    Which either means…

    1. I’ve got good things ahead!
    or
    2. I’m going to get hit by a bus.

  • Have I told you that I love how you girls write on this site…and how I can hear your personality in your sweet, funny, endearing, encouraging, laugh-out-loud posts…this is great reading on a sunny afternoon. more please!! more more!!!

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