maybe mama did raise a fool

every kid in the camp would perform a monologue. and after each person went, the camp leaders called on us. and we would have to say something we liked and didn’t like about their performance.

the thing way, one teacher instructed us to replace the “but” with an “and.” so rather than saying, “i liked how you pronounced the words but you were too quiet,” she would make us say, “i like how you pronounced the words and you were too quiet.”

and you don’t realize how much one word can change a whole mindset.

my teacher told us to do this as it was teaching us good and bad can exist at the same time. you can be good in one area in bad in another at the same time.

and that’s something i’ve tried to apply throughout my life. always remembering to replace that but with an and.

“i had a good day and i have depression”

“i went through something really hard and others have gone through things harder than me.”

“it’s super hard for me to eat full meals and i’m going to eat a full meal.”

“i ate a full meal today and i still have an eating disorder.”

“i’m sad and others around me are happy”

Go a little fart

Dig a little dee

Reach a little

Catch the Cat