Growing up I knew of only two options: pretty, "graceful," gorgeous, clean, beautiful, and put together OR rough, rude, rugged, nasty, and strong. One was prized in my community while the other was shamed. I knew how to play the game and sure as heck wasn't going to get caught in the other camp.
Watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is incredibly validating and freeing to watch. The way she operates, expertly schmoozing to navigate society's hoops, protecting fragile egos without even a second thought to the ridiculously uneven standard was absolutely my jam for a long time. I could keep up and I proved it. I naively swallowed the dirt I was poured until I accidentally coughed it back up. I am beginning to learn about high quality coffee.
There is a third option. Finding myself as a woman, a child, and a lover of Jesus who doesn't happen to hate men has been quite a trek (that I'm still on). It's taken me a bit to figure out how to keep performing at a high level and yet actually be graceful enough with myself and others to allow imperfections and vulnerability to do the real work in my life. Preach on, Mrs. Maisel.
Unsplash photo cred: DAVE NETTO