Life lessons from a Belle with balls...

"Scarlett O'Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom noticed."

-Gone With the Wind

Growing up I was athletic and could out run most boys.  Had a temper. Was competitive.  Opinionated.  Pretty smart.  Cursed on occasion. Was stubborn. Wanted to get, what I wanted. Truth is, not much has changed.  I never understood the heroines of literature and television that greeted me...pretty, sweet, self-sacrificing, smart (but not TOO smart), BLONDE. It's no wonder that when in fifth grade I picked up "Gone With the Wind" from the town library one summer for reading, that I met what would become a life long friend.  Katie Scarlett O'Hara...Hamilton, Kennedy, Butler. Thereafter, "Gone With the Wind" became my de rigueur summer reading from elementary thru high school.  A copy of the novel sits in my living room as I type.  I didn't realize it at the time, but I was memorizing some important life lessons along the way...as well as spending time with a favorite friend of mine.  Many see Scarlett O'Hara as a vain, deceitful, selfish gal...daring, dirty and cunning as any male.  They are right.  I love that (and so much more) about her.

"She Was Not Beautiful, But Men Seldom Noticed"


Everything I Learned in Life, I Learned from Scarlett O'Hara

1.  "Why does a girl have to be so silly to catch a husband?"  Amen sista'.  She doesn't.  In fact, you can catch THREE of them if you use your brains and outsmart them.  But it's the one who doesn't act silly right back atcha, that is the one worth keeping.

2.  Charm and kindness always trumps beauty.  God bestows beauty.  Charm is learned, cultivated, longer lasting, and more powerful.

3.  Things are not always what they seem.  Hello gorgeous green velvet dress/curtains!?!?  Don't judge on appearances alone.

4.  "Fiddle-dee-dee!".  Denial?   I see it as a belief in yourself.  Do not let others pull you down with their negativity and short minded natures.  I find myself saying "it is, what it is" quite frequently lately.  I've been channeling Scarlett without giving her credit.

5.  Your dream guy may not be the right guy for you.  Sometimes you need to listen more to your head, and less to your heart.

6.  All girls need one trusted girlfriend.  To be there for them, and for them to be there for you.  Just don't try to steal her husband!

7.  Blood is thicker than water.  Nothing matters more than family and the family name.

8.  No one can rescue you, but yourself.  Every girl has the opportunity to be the heroine of her own story.  But it's always nice to have a Rhett Butler for back up.

9.  "I can't think about that right now.  If I do, I'll go crazy.  I'll think about that tomorrow!"  Procrastination?  Hardly.  STILL trying to implemet this lesson in my life.  Sometimes it's good to not act in the heat of the moment or impulse.  But to let things sit until calmer heads prevail.

10.  "After all, tomorrow is another day".  ALWAYS be hopeful for the future and fresh starts.

And I would like to add one additional one...

10a.  Never underestimate the importance of good quality undergarments!  Afterall, yesterday's corsets are today's SPANX.  Thank goodness we've come a long way baby.


Yep, Scarlett showed me that self confidence, stubbornness, having a back bone, standing up for what you believe in, using your brain, knowing what you want and going after it...are all qualities I can totally relate to. Did her methods justify her means?  Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.

Here's where I'm linking up today ..."The Party's On"

Please join me on Sundays for Song-ography.

This week's song title is the Bangle's "Hazy Shade of Winter".