Mackenzie’s Blog

Let your labels shine through

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We are our own worst critics. It’s so easy to find faults but difficult to pinpoint the qualities we love about ourselves and what makes us unique. And sometimes, due to our past, our relationships, or things that have happened to us, we fall into a trap of hiding behind a facade. In a brainwashed haze, we strive to overcompensate for the qualities we truly believe we fall short of.

I welcome guest blogger, Jennie B of the Sassy Steel Magnolia, to share how a screen-printed tank top changed her outlook on self confidence.

Chanel, Balenciaga, Oscar de la Renta, Stella .. oh no, no, no. I’m not talking about those labels. I’m talking about the other labels. The ones that can’t necessarily be found in dress shops in Paris or the Fashion District of the Big Apple. They aren’t stitched on by fine Italian threads and they definitely are not restricted to seasons. These labels are cultivated over time and always go with every outfit. You just may not realize it yet.

See, I’m the youngest of four kids and we each have our labels in the family. Joe, the oldest one, Jim, the smart one, Jessica, the pretty one, and then me — the shy one until you get to know me then it’s the funny one. Not too shabby, right? Decent. Definitely workable. But, oddly enough I still struggle sometimes with my self-image, as most of us do.

I had accepted with open arms being labeled the funny one in the bunch. But somewhere along the line, wires got mixed up and I was under the impression that was all I had going for me. I referred to myself as a one-conversation person. All I needed was that first conversation, where I could unleash the funny one inside. It was just getting to that one conversation. Road block – in a sea of beautiful people, how does a girl labeled the funny one get to that first convo?

And then it came it me, the“great idea” which did turn out to be great, just in a completely different way. If I already knew my labels, then wouldn’t it make sense to make it blatantly obvious what those were? (Your thoughts are right – this is totally going down the WRONG road.) So I went online and designed a tank top. It was a hot racer back tank top in a bright teal, and on the front I typed “..but I have a Phenomenal Personality.” *I’ll pause for all comments, groans, giggles, etc.

Oh but yes, yes I did. I sent the picture of my creation to some of my friends and my sister. Talk about mixed reactions! Some thought it was hilarious while a few others called me out on the situation. You see, I was hiding behind the label of the funny one, because like I said earlier, that’s all I thought there was to me. I hadn’t really thought of myself as the pretty one or the smart one, I had always just been the funny one and that my friends, was a great cape for me to hide under for quite some time.

It wasn’t until I made the tank top that I fully realized what I was doing this whole time. I was finally aware as to the extent of just how short I was selling myself. I didn’t need to plaster my labels on a shirt for people to see them. I had to let them shine through on their own. All of them, even the ones I didn’t know were there.

Thank goodness I never followed through and purchased the tank top. I mean Heavens, it only took me 25 years to come around and wake up, but at least I saved myself that extra $25! I did however print it out and put it up on my refrigerator at home. Just a friendly little reminder of where I was and how far I’d come.

Now don’t get me wrong, I do love Chanel and Balenciaga and Stella, but for now I’ll stick to rockin’ my own labels for a while. They’re always in style, and never out of season.

About the Sassy Steel Magnolia (aka Jennie B):

A mid 20’s Sassy Steel Magnolia, I’m taking my journey of life, love, faith and laughter to the masses. By embracing all sides of being a woman – strong, delicate, simple, confusing, shy, crazy, etc. etc. (sometimes all of the above in the same day) – I hope to inspire and empower other women on their journey. I’m a strong believer that every woman has a little Sassy and a little Steel Magnolia inside of her, waiting to be unleashed..she just may not know it yet.

JFF Laughing