The Fearless Blogger

(watch at your own risk!)

Might as well close up the internet and go home -- there couldn’t possibly be anything left to share that is cuter than this.

Now, it’s no secret that I love ice cream. Or that I love cats.  And yes, I am incredibly fond of cats wearing hats.  Imagine, if you will, if one were to somehow combine ice cream and cats and hats.

Don’t worry if you can’t. Prior to 10 minutes ago, the idea of such a medley was far beyond my realm of possibilities.

So, we’re in complete agreement: It would be too much.

It would be like the cuteness equivalent of “The Light” in Lost -- a threshold so very tempting, but one I’d dare not cross.

Of course in L.A., the concept of “too much” just doesn’t exist.

In fact, a cat in a hat with ice cream is just barely “enough” in L.A.   L.A. takes it to the next level.

L.A. gives us a kitten wearing a tiny hat eating a miniature ice cream cone. As a commercial! I couldn’t even pick which words to italicize because it’s all just too friggin’ cute!

Gotta love L.A.!

A kitten’s tiny hat tip to: Kitten In Tiny Hat Eats Ice Cream | Comedy.com.

I found this clip when I was looking for the Chris Farley videos for last next week’s post.

This is dedicated to anyone who may have been feeling – or maybe just realized – they’ve been “phoning it in” lately.

Hopefully it will inspire you to remember what it’s like to want to give 100% and maybe find your way back to that.

At the very least, it starts your week out with a solid dose of Steve Martin and a smile.

Just remember: If Rob Schneider can do it, so can you!

click me so you can read all the funny-ness (and watch your entire day disappear as you get sucked into the Hyperbole and a Half time vortex)

This is why I love Allie Brosh.

And why you should subscribe to Hyperbole and a Half.

Right now.

(Go ahead, I’ll wait.)

I wanted to tell Allie I no longer have blonde hair and do not have a pink dress, and to please stop reading my diary.

Then I wondered how someone who lives in Montana and doesn’t know me was able to get access to my diary.

Then I realized I don’t keep a diary.

Huh.

(Just to make sure we’re on the same page: I think this is funny and you should read it: Hyperbole and a Half: This is Why I’ll Never be an Adult.)

As I said in yesterday’s post:

I’m ready to share my story, with hope that others like me might connect with it.  We can feel stronger when we know we’re not alone.

I’ve spent the past ten weeks experiencing just how true that is.

This Saturday I will be celebrating my graduation from the Women’s Leadership Institute’s Program for Women Who Have Overcome Adversity.  You’ll be hearing more about it – as I described it to my boyfriend on my drive back from orientation: “This is like Oprah-level stuff!”.  For now, I encourage you to visit the website or Facebook page.

My next few blog posts will be excerpts from my writings during the program.  Today’s post is actually from my application, in response to the question: “How will participating in the Women’s Leadership Institute Program impact your life?”

Just as I shared my story there, I now share it here, with you.

Sharing my stories with others is important to me. I have found the ability to connect with someone that has been where you are – to find a person that you identify with – can afford a more powerful therapeutic value than any medication or support manual could provide. I see a need for more role models for women with ADHD, OCD or other mental illnesses. If others can benefit from the lessons my experiences have taught me, I think it would be selfish not to share to what I’ve learned.

By giving me the opportunity learn about the adversities that others have overcome, I’ll also be able to learn by example that my past need not dictate my future. These accomplishments of the other participants, and the women that completed the program before us, will provide me with the inspiration to set goals that surpass merely surviving and reaffirm my potential to create a life in which I thrive.

Your blog contains a quote by Anna Quinlan that resonates with me:

If your success is not on your own terms, if it looks good to the world but does not feel good in your heart, it is not success at all.

Previously my success was not on my own terms, and although it looked good to the world, it did not feel good in my heart.

I’m optomistic that, with the right structure, framework, tools, and support, I’ll be able to identify what my true success looks like and the momentum to fully achieve it.

Like Leaping Lucy, I too shall soar!

Until recently, my past success may not have been on my terms or felt good in my heart at the time. Still, those accomplishments currently remain in my heart, filling it with evidence that – empowered with the proper guidance – I have the ability to define and achieve the terms of my future success.

When I said I’m ready to start sharing my story, I meant it!

And I don’t mess around – I went straight to CNN!

Something I haven’t really written about is my emetophobia. (Fear of vomit – either being around it and/or vomiting yourself. I “just” had a fear of being around it.)

My fear of being around anyone throwing up was so bad I couldn’t even watch cartoon scenes with it! (And after I heard Avatar 3D made some people sick, I made my boyfriend leave the theater & come back another day so I could sit in the middle of the last row, hopefully a “vomit safe zone”).

It’s one of those things that I knew in my head makes no sense. But, unlike dogs,snakes or even spiders, it’s natural to not want to be around vomit. Only for me, it was well beyond a natural reaction. read more