Monday Mantra: Muppets

I'm back, bitches. 

- A

Just kidding. But I am back from my blogging hiatus.  The last time I took a break from working for more than a week was Christmas break, senior year of college. I had originally planned on heading home for a week, but after complete burnout/breakdown, my parents (greatest parents ever) extended my plane ticket and my boss (greatest boss ever) let me take some extra time off. I thought I was going to be bored, but it wound up being exactly what I needed. I spent tons of time with my family, my pets, my childhood friends, relaxing, and doing yoga. Oh, and watching terrible holiday themed movies and HGTV. Another thing I did plenty of? Watching Muppet movies. As we all know, Jim Henson is my hero. The Muppets have brought me such joy for as long as I can remember. Maybe at 26 I should be moving on to something for adult for inspiration, but honestly, the Muppets (and Jim Henson) will always be the best role models. 

Exhibit A: Miss Piggy. 

Some people give Piggy a hard time (looking at you, R) but she is such a good role model. She's sassy (and blonde), and even though she's a pig, she knows she's the hottest bitch around. Her self confidence and ability to turn a phrase en français is admirable for sure. But even though she won't put up with any shenanigans, she is still forgiving.

Exhibit B1 & B2: Kermit T. Frog/Jim Henson. 

The older I get, the more I find myself behaving like my Mom, and speaking like my Dad. My Mom is the most giving, saintlike person I have ever met. And I have met Oprah, so duh, my Mom is better than Oprah. Any my Dad is the most encouraging, fantastic Dad around. He has lived in other countries, seen more of the world than just about anyone, and is always encouraging me to stand up for myself and explore. I know you're supposed to dread turning into your parents, but the more of them I see in myself, the better I feel about myself. If I can grow up to be half as confident as my Dad, and half as kind as my mom, I will be happy.  And, as this trip home taught me, even if you're completely alone in a shoebox apartment thousands of miles away from home, your family is always with you. Maybe things haven't turned out as I thought they would, but my family is always around to remind me that there is something better. 

Exhibit C: The Swedish Chef.

Postulating genius. And his BFFs are singing foods. 

Exhibit D: Cookie Monster.

The first song I ever memorized was from a Sesame Street tape (yes, cassette tape), and it was called "Cookies for Breakfast".  I still have it memorized to this day. It was about Cookie Monster going to visit Bert for Breakfast, and it was straight up lyrical genius. 

Yesterday I was watching that new Comedy Central show about Brody Stevens, the Bi-polar comedian who had a manic episode unfold via Twitter  and he said something that really struck me. "Depression is living in the past, and anxiety is worrying about the future".  I don't really do New Year's Resolutions, because the dead of winter seems like a rough time to start out on some new life plan, but I have been thinking a lot about living more in the moment. Looking back on failures, or happy times that are no longer, is not helpful to anyone. And worrying about the future isn't going to change it. WWCMD? Live for the now; eat a cookie. 

Exhibit E: Jim MF Henson.

This is the best inspirational quote of all time. Nothing you can find will be better, I promise. 

Sometimes I wonder if I could become Miss Piggy's protégé. Am I a (wo)man or Muppet? I could actually spend an entire day on the Muppet Studio YouTube channel. Aside from living in Europe, my other life dream has been to work for Muppet Studios, so any Hensons in the house, please feel free to email a sister about a job. I will move to Antarctica, if necessary. 

All images courtesy, per usual, of Pinterest. Follow me HERE.