Hello. My name is Crystal, and I am a procrastinator.

This morning, I found a notebook that I had used as a journal. It was during the time that I was writing in this notebook that I decided that I needed to write again. It took me a while to get started. I still have trouble making time to actually sit down and write something besides a journal. That is where the procrastinating comes in. It would be easy to get discouraged with my shortcomings. So instead, I have decided to post a list of accomplishments from the last year. And maybe set a few goals.

• This will be the tenth blog post in the last year. Which is exactly 10 more than I have posted in the last 10 years.
• I am close to finishing my 11th journal in just over a year. Prior to my decision to really start writing again, I was averaging one journal every year or year and a half.
• I participated in NaNoWriMo and won. I wrote over 50,000 words in the month of November, and true to my procrastinating nature, I wrote most of those words on the last three days. (I had intended to blog about the experience, but yeah, I procrastinated.)
• I don’t feel guilty calling myself a writer.

And now for a few goals.

• Blog more often on both blogs.
• Use the super cute planner I bought earlier this month to block out some time for writing.
• Start rewriting the amazing novel I started in November.
• Start planning a novel for this November.
• Submit at least 5 pieces for possible publication this year.

 

 

Beautiful

The blonde lady motioned to me as I finished with the last customer in my line. She was a little hesitant, but something in her eyes said she was determined.

“I need some help.” She spoke quietly, not quite looking at me.

“Okay. What can I help you with?” I walked around the counter toward her with a smile on my face.

“Well, really she needs your help. She needs a new bra.”

As she was speaking, a small, nervous looking lady stepped out from behind the tower of bras.

“I’m so embarrassing.” She spoke quietly and quickly. “I’m so embarrassing,” she repeated.

“Let’s go back here. We’ll have more privacy.” I started toward the fitting room area with both ladies trailing behind me. The blonde chatted on the way back, trying to put her friend a little more at ease.

“We’ll go in here.” I grabbed the tape measure and opened a fitting room door, leaving room for her to go in ahead of me.

“I’m so embarrassing,” she repeated for the third time and started to remover her shirt.

“No, it’s ok. I’ll measure over your shirt.” She looked at me for the first time. Relieved, yet a little ashamed, she lifted her breasts so I would touch her as little as possible. I measured quickly, asking questions about where she lived and commenting on the beautiful day to distract her and put her at ease.

The whole time I was working with her I smiled, encouraged, asked questions, talked with her family. She found something she liked, they paid and left.

There are times when I look back at that moment and wish it had ended differently. Maybe I would have looked her in the eye and simply said, “You are not embarrassing. You are beautiful.” I can’t change anything about that moment. She will probably never know how much that encounter changed the way I look at the people around me.

So, in case you haven’t heard it today, I just want you to know that you are beautiful.