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Monday, September 12, 2011

A Number I Am Not


I am not just the number that pops up when I step on the scale. (SO not telling you this number)


I am not 36-24-36 thank-you-very-much Sir-Mix-A-Lot.


I am more than just “when was your last cycle and how long was it?”


I am not just the number on that little annoying, itchy tag on my bra. (Yet another number that will stay a secret)


I am not defined by the number of children I have. (3) And how many are girls (0) and how many are boys (3).


I am not just number 14 in line.


My worth is not wrapped up in the number of Facebook friends I have, or the number of followers I have on my blog and Pinterest, or by my Klout score.


What I am cannot be defined in numbers.


I am a woman with thoughts, feelings and ideas. (ask me, I’d be happy to tell you them)


I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter and an auntie.


I am a lover, a kisser and healer of all boo-boo’s.  I am a creator of fun and imagination and I tell the best stories. 


My arms are a safe place for my children no matter what.


I relish the taste of new foods on my tongue and I have a fantastic wine palate.


I am a singer (if only in the shower or in front of my children), a dancer (even if the dance floor is just my kitchen), and a lover of the written word.  I like to pretend I can write.


I am me.  Not a number.


And that is enough.

98 comments:

Robin | Farewell, Stranger said...

I LOVE this post. I really, truly do. We need to let go of those numbers. Absolutely.

The way you expressed this, with humour and confidence, says so much about who you are. Which cannot be defined by a number. Except, perhaps, the 8th link-up on Be Enough Me For Cancer today. And THAT, my friend, is something to be proud of. You did it. You told your story.

Way to go. And thank you, so much, for linking this up with us.

Bits of Bee said...

Very lovely, and so true! Great post, and a good way to start a new week with a positive attitude :)

Alison said...

A wonderful post, and oh-so-true! You're right, we are not defined by numbers, we are more than that, and frequently, we forget that. I'm so glad you wrote this! And thank you for linking up with JBE.

Theresa said...

You might be #1 in my books, but I'll pretend #1 means something else like my favourite wine, so it doesnt "count"

;c)

Kerry Ann @Vinobaby's Voice said...

It is hard sometimes to remember we are individuals when all anyone wants from us is our account #,membership #,passwords, and ratings. Maybe that's why we love words and not numbers.

Oh, and my kitchen floor hosts some fabulous dance shows too. Rock on.

The Woven Moments said...

I may have to print this one out and put it in my cube at work as a reminder.

WE ARE ENOUGH!!! :)

Tatter Scoops said...

This post put a smile on my face! Thank you for the reminder that we are all more than just numbers. :D

Missy | Literal Mom said...

Great post - it's so easy to define yourself by numbers and so, so, so important not to.

Stephanie said...

I LOVE this post! I am not a number and don't want my kids to grow up thinking they are numbers either:)

Stephanie said...

Ummm...but I am follower numer 49 :)

Kelly said...

I LOVED this post!! And you said this message so so well!! WE are more than just a number!

I am glad you posted this, because we need to be reminded that we are individuals made up of so many wonderful things...

Thank you for the reminder! :)

Life As Wife said...

Too many bloggers, myself included, get caught up in the numbers game and forget to enjoy the community and ride. Thanks for the reminder!

Shell said...

Oh, how I love this!

Unknown said...

Love, love, LOVE IT!!! You are SO right.

Numbers are stupid. Especially the age ones. I totally still feel 17.

Thanks for linking up today!

Unknown said...

I don't think numbers really tell much about a person. You are right they really shouldn't define someone.

Jenny said...

I love this! I am a teacher and hate the idea of giving a student a number to make organization easier. A child should be a person...not a number! It is crazy how many numbers try to define us!

Unknown said...

All those things that you are make you way more than enough. Wonderful post!

Stephanie @ dial m for minky said...

WORD! and AMEN!!! I'm so glad you linked up to Just Be Enough.

Cookie’s Mom said...

What a great post. I laughed at all of these and identified with many of them too. So, true. You are more than your numbers and ranks. I love your definition of 'singer' and 'dancer'. I am both of these as well. :)

Bella said...

New to your blog but I had to comment to say how much I liked this post! Indeed, we're more than just a number! Thank you for saying what I'm sure, most of us feel!

bridget said...

And you're perfect. I {heart} you!

Wendy @ mama one to three said...

Great post & something I have to tell myself several times a day. I don't think it's really sunk in for me--if I am being honest--but I thank you for the reminder and inspiration!

Liz Mays said...

You view yourself so perfectly!

I'm also quite intrigued with these wonderful stories you tell. :)

Anonymous said...

Sometimes I read these Be Enough posts and it seems like people are trying to convince themselves that they ARE enough. I like how confident you come across in that YOU are definitely enough.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Robin,

Thank you so very much! And thank you for your encouragement. You have no idea how much it means to me.

I'm so very proud to be the 8th link up!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Bits of Bee,

Thank you so much. I've definitely learned I do better when I think positively.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Alison,

Thank you. I wish that there weren't so many numbers out there. But its all in how we choose to see them right? We give it the power...and I'm taking the power back!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Theresa,

Aww thank you. You are so sweet! Wine is always a good substitute!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

vinobaby,

It really is hard. Numbers are everywhere. But we have to remember they are just that, numbers.

Yeah my kitchen floor could put Dancing With The Stars to shame! :)

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Ryan,

I would be honored to be in your cube. Then I would be with you every day! :)

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Tatter Scoops,

Thank you so much for stopping by my itty bitty blog and commenting. I truly appreciate it.

I'm so glad it put a smile on your face. It's so true. We are more than just numbers. So very much more!

Hope you come and visit again soon!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Missy,

Thank you! It is a very easy trap to fall into. It takes more work to remind yourself not to fall into the numbers pit that's for sure.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Modern Mom,

I'm so very honored that you stopped by my little space here in the blogosphere and commented. Thank you so very much.

YES! We need to think about our kids too. If we show them that we define ourselves by numbers they will follow in our footsteps. Not okay!

Oh and thank you so much for following. And while you may be the 49th follower...I'm just going to say you are my newest follower. See! No numbers!

Hope you visit again soon!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

K Pugliano,

Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. It means the world to me!

I'm glad you liked the post. I'm honored by your compliment.

I hope to see you around here again soon! :)

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Life As Wife,

Thank you for stopping by! I'm so glad you did! And you are so right. Too many people get caught up in the numbers. We need a gentle reminder that we are more than what the numbers show.

I hope you come and visit again soon! :)

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Shell,

Thank you so very much. I'm so honored that you liked it.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Elaine,

I'm so very glad that you like it.

You are so right, the age number is ridiculous!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

JDaniel4's Mom,

I agree. Numbers definitely don't tell much about a person, but somehow we put a value on them. We shouldn't.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Jenny,

Thank you for visiting and commenting. It is crazy how many numbers try to define us. I guess the trick is to not let them. It's in our control.

I hope you come and visit again soon! Would love to see you again.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

I'm Jennifer,

Thank you so very much. You are so sweet!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Minky,

Thank you so very much for that comment.

I'm glad I linked up as well.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Cookie's Mom,

Thank you so very much. I'm so glad you could relate to so much of it.

We are all singers and dancers in our own right! :)

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Bella,

Thank you so much for stopping by. I'm honored by your visit and I'm so very glad you liked this post. We definitely are more than just a number.

I hope you visit again soon!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

bridget,

You are too kind. I {heart} you too! :)

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Wendy,

First thank you so very much for stopping by and commenting. I truly appreciate it.

Second, it is so easy to get wrapped up in the numbers. I do it to, but I quickly snap out of it and remember that I'm the only one that can define me...even if that means I'm a tad crazy! :)

Hope to see you here again soon!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

blueviolet,

You are too kind! Thank you!

You will have to ask my children and my family members why I tell great stories, because I don't have a clue. Mostly I tell real life stories in a humorous way!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

MamaMash,

Thank you so very very much. I am extremely honored by your compliment.

Anonymous said...

I love this! It is a great way to show appreciation for who you are and all the things that you do. You are definitely more than a number. :)

angela said...

You are NOT pretending to be a writer, my friend. You ARE a writer :)

However, the rest of this post was absolute perfection. We need to be defined by our actions and our souls and not by where we "fit" in some grand number line stretching from here to eternity.

Thanks for linking with JBE; I love seeing you here!

Rach (DonutsMama) said...

Definitely not a number. You are unique and all your wonderfulness cannot be quantified!

Kate F. @Katefineske said...

Love it. I have no minutes left on my day to read... BUT so glad I did. Because numbers. Are. Annoying. And I hate being judged by then. Absolutely loved the post...

Bees With Honey said...

Wow! Such a powerful post. I loved it! You rocked this girl. I am not a number either and I am too all those things you said...ha ha.

Being ENOUGH rules!

Tammy said...

I never really thought about being related to a number but we really are, aren't we? Wow! You got me thinking girl! :)

Happy Monday! Our weather is changing, and not for the better! Ugh!

Cass said...

I am so glad you've found such a great community! Isn't it gratifying and validating? And this post: completely true. I love you. xoxo

Kimberly said...

I LOVE this post! It's so true. We aren't numbers, yet we find ourselves getting wrapped up in them. We need to let go, because underneath? We're awesome.

Stasha said...

Well said. Bravo!
And you are a writer. Your wordsare powerful and you tell a great tale.

Amanda @ It's Blogworthy said...

You know what numbers mean the least? The blog stuff..the Klout stuff...that means NOTHING and yet so many of us let it define us! This is such a great post. Thanks for sharing.

ChiMomWriter said...

A well-written reminder of a point that gets buried in the details. I am more than the number of laundry loads waiting for me. Thank you for linking up with Just Be Enough!!

Kristy @Loveandblasphemy said...

Geez, I never thought of how many numbers are tied to us! I am definitely not a number. I am more a tall, squishy body.

story girl said...

Oh, I so feel this. There have been so many numbers in my life. I'm not sure when they stopped defining me so much, but I think they have. The kind of worth you have is something that can't be quantified. So lovely.

Jessica said...

This is very true and sometimes it's difficult to remember that we are more than a number, especially in the online world.

Anonymous said...

Love this post!! So true!!!

Elena Wollborg said...

Great post! You are more than just a number. Not to be defined by any of the things listed. :)

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Optimistic Mom,

I'm so glad you like it. We are all more than a number

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Angela,

You are so sweet. That is one of the best compliments I've had in a long time. Thank you!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Rach,

Right back atcha! You are fabulous!!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Kate,

Numbers ARE annoying!! I'm so very glad you liked this post!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Bees,

Thank you so very much. You are so sweet to me!!

You are all that and a bag of chips girly! Don't let anyone tell you different.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Tammy,

I'm so glad I got you thinking! That's a total compliment in my book.

Our weather has changed. I'm wrapped up in a fleece blanket tonight. I miss the sun already!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Cass,

I have found an awesome community and its partly because of you pushing me to start my blog!

I love you right back! xoxo

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Kim,

I'm so glad you liked it. And you are right. We ARE awesome!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Stasha,

Thank you so much. You actually made me blush!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Amanda,

You are exactly right. They don't mean a good darn thing!

I'm so glad you enjoyed this post! Thank you for visiting my space!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Kristy,

It really is crazy if you sit down and think about it. How people attach their worth to a number. I refuse to do it and I'm glad to see that you do too!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope to see you again soon!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

story girl,

I'm so glad that numbers have stopped defining you! I think that's excellent!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Jessica,

I'm glad you agree. It is difficult. But I just keep trying to remind myself that I'm more than just a number

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Mommy Needs A Vacation,

I'm so very glad that you liked it!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Elena,

I'm glad you enjoyed it. We all define ourselves, numbers don't.

Christi said...

Yes! Very well said! I'm sometimes amazed at how many numbers we have to know: social security number, drivers license number, license plate, phone number, address, zip code - it's just too much!

McKenna said...

Oh I love this, what a great way to look at life and numbers. :)

Elena Sonnino said...

LOVE this. my favorite (except for the wine palate) is: "I am a lover, a kisser and healer of all boo-boo’s. I am a creator of fun and imagination and I tell the best stories." So beautiful. Thank you soo much for linking up with JBE!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Jessica,

I'm so glad you liked this post. It means so much to me!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Elena,

I'm so very glad you like this. Really. I'm so honored! You're compliment made me blush...not an easy thing to d.

Thank YOU for creating Just Be Enough!

Grumpy Grateful Mom said...

I LOVED your take on this! Sometimes I get caught up in letting other people define my worth, but I don't want to be that way. I'm moving on from the number comparisons. :)

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Christi,

For some reason in society we are more numbers than humans...and I don't like it!

I'm so glad you liked this post!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Grumpy Grateful Mom,

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked it! And I'm so very glad that you are moving on from the number comparison!

There is so much more in life than numbers!

TanyasTreasureTrove said...

Hi! Following you from a blog hop!:0)
Hope you visit me and return the follow!

Btw if you like please join the Treasure Trove Tribune! I think you will enjoy it!:0)

Natalie said...

Yes you are enough! Didn't realize how many numbers put us in a box until you pointed that out!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Natalie,
It really is amazing if you stop to think about it!

Andrea said...

Oh. This was EXACTLY what I needed right this second. I'm SO friggin glad I clicked on your link over at Write on Edge. I adored this. It's perfect. Amen to all of it!

Natalie @ MamaTrack said...

Lovely, empowering and so true!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Andrea,

WELCOME! I'm so very glad you liked this post. We are all SO very much more than numbers!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Natalie,

Thank you so very much. I am humbled by your compliment!

Deb said...

Love this. I think someday I may actually go from reading and cheering at some of these magnificent entries to actually writing one. :)

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Deb,

Thank you so very much for stopping by and commenting.

I'm so glad you like this post. And you should write one! There is a lot of power in it! :)

Maggie S. said...

That IS a great post. It is something we all need to remember. We are more than the sum of all the numbers assigned to us.

COngratulations on your feature @ Sharing your Awesome.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Maggie,

Welcome! And thank you, I'm so glad you liked it!

Hope you visit again soon! :)