It’s Okay

Written by Allison Day - February 26, 2010 11 Comments

It’s okay if you’re not perfect.
It’s okay to admit you don’t know how to do something.
It’s okay to ask for help.
It’s okay to make stupid mistakes.

It’s okay to make really, really stupid mistakes, then feel like a complete imbecile when you realize what you did wrong.
You’re not an imbecile, I promise.

It’s okay to step outside your comfort zone.
It’s okay to make a complete fool of yourself.
It’s okay to laugh at yourself.
It’s okay if other people laugh at you.

It’s okay to procrastinate, and keep putting off things that really, really scare you.
But most of the time, it feels better to just get it over with.

It’s okay to shut the entire world out, if you need a day to yourself.
It’s okay to scream and yell and curse out your computer if it makes you feel better.
It’s okay to blast some music and have your own private dance party, when things get to be too much.
It’s okay to decide that it’s time for that vacation that you never have time for.

It’s okay if you need a shoulder to cry on, when every stupid little thing keeps going wrong.
Even if none of it really matters.

It’s okay if some days you need everything to be all about you.
It’s okay if you can’t always be grateful, even if others aren’t as lucky as you.
It’s okay if the dishes pile up in the sink, from time to time.
It’s okay to completely slack off, once in a while.

It’s okay to ignore what everyone else insists you do, and just do what you need to do, for you.
Even if they don’t approve.

It’s okay not to be the perfect husband, wife, mother, father, sister, brother, boyfriend, girlfriend, daughter, son, employee, boss…
It’s okay to just be 100% you.
It’s okay to demand that people love you for you, and not for who they want you to be.
It’s okay to refuse to conform.

It’s okay to be weird, awkward, shy, quiet, antisocial, loud, overly social, hyperactive, unfashionable, easily forgettable, or have an obnoxious laugh.
Some people find that charming. And they’re probably the people you’d rather be around anyways.

It’s okay to love.
Even if you’re going to get hurt.
It’s okay to give your all.
Even if you’re going to be taken advantage of.

It’s okay to care more about others’ happiness than your own.
Even if people are going to take you for granted.
It’s okay to go above and beyond for people, even if you know you won’t get anything in return.
It’s still worth it.

It’s okay if you needed this reminder.
So did I.

It’s okay.

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Read the Comments

11 Outstanding Responses to "It’s Okay"

    Wendi Kelly on February 26, 2010 at 7:46 am • Permalink

    Allison,

    That put a lump in my throat the first, second and now third time I am reading it. That simple reassurance is SO important for all of us.

    It’s Ok. A message of Grace. Why is it that we are all so quick to hand out grace to others and short on Grace for ourselves”

    Thanks for this reminder. Hugs.

    Davina on February 26, 2010 at 12:16 pm • Permalink

    You know what I wish? That other people would make it okay for a person to be less than perfect. Geez, people are so judgmental. Ever notice that? Everybody always says this and then you turn around and you’re being laughed at or scrutinized…. Hmm, think I need to read this all again :-) Especially numbers 8 and 9.
    .-= Davina’s last post… Just Glowing, That’s All =-.

    Friar on February 26, 2010 at 12:20 pm • Permalink

    This post was….okay. :-)

    Patricia on February 26, 2010 at 2:18 pm • Permalink

    It’s okay if I say thanks for sharing.A sweet reminder for all of us.A big hug from Argentina
    .-= Patricia’s last post… El ojo del artista =-.

    Allison Day on February 26, 2010 at 4:43 pm • Permalink

    Wendi – Thank you again for letting me post this. It was something I needed to hear (and, in some ways, something Son has been telling me all week) so I figured others might need to hear it as well. :)

    Davina – Oh believe me, I know. I get so many people telling me I need to do this, I need to do that, I need I need I need. (No, really people, I actually don’t need to do everything you think I need to!) And the weird thing is, it goes the other way too – if you don’t do something that other people do that could be considered less than perfect, then you (or at least, I) quite often get the snide “Well aren’t you just a perfect little goody-two-shoes princess.” Ugh. Seems we just can’t win.

    So just laugh at yourself, let them laugh at you, let yourself be entirely imperfect, and at the end of the day just be YOU. :)

    Friar – Heh, thanks so much Friar. ;)

    Patricia – It’s very nice to meet you! Thank you, and big hugs back. :)

    steph on February 26, 2010 at 7:07 pm • Permalink

    Sometimes all I need to hear is “it’s okay.” Or “everything is going to be all right.”

    Lori Hoeck on February 26, 2010 at 7:43 pm • Permalink

    Thank you for the reminder. It’s so easy to get caught up in the pressures and expectations.
    .-= Lori Hoeck’s last post… Mindset in self defense is crucial to victory =-.

    Marc on February 26, 2010 at 8:52 pm • Permalink

    Allison, you are more than okay in my book. *cwtch*

    Allison Day on February 26, 2010 at 9:09 pm • Permalink

    Steph – I agree completely. People forget, sometimes, how much such a simple gesture can help.

    Lori – My pleasure. My reminder came from someone very close to me at just the right time, and I felt it appropriate to pass it on. :)

    Marc – Aw, thank you. *cwtch* :)

    Lance on February 28, 2010 at 5:02 pm • Permalink

    Allison,
    As I read this today…I am reminded that is okay to express how I feel…

    And today, that is a message that is so, so good for me to hear…
    .-= Lance’s last post… Sunday Thought For The Day =-.

    Allison Day on March 1, 2010 at 2:12 pm • Permalink

    Lance – It is. It so very much is. Your addition – It’s okay to express how you feel – ss a message that I needed to be reminded of this week, and one that goes so very well with that beautiful post you wrote last week about dancing in public. It’s okay to express how you feel… even when other people, strangers even, are around to see it. I think I need to be reminded of that often, because far too many times I suppress the urge to dance/goof off in public, because I’m too shy to put myself out there like that. Thank you for that reminder, Lance. :)