Permission.

Last week, I found myself journaling about how I still felt like I needed permission. Permission to do what? To live my life and do the things that I want to do.

I undertake things timidly afraid that someone is going to say, "Um, who said you could do that?" or "That's wrong." or "There is no future in that." or "There are a millions other things that you should be doing right now."  (Inner critic rearing its ugly head again.) I have this need to have someone validate whatever it is that I'm doing. I need someone to nod their head and say, "Yep, everything looks good. Carry on."

I am 27 years old with a kid of my own and I still feel like a kid...and not in the good childlike-wonder way.

So imagine my surprise when yesterday a delightful update from Danielle LaPorte's whitehot truth pops up in my inbox with the subject: your permission slip from the universe.

There were two that spoke to me the most:

• You have permission to pursue your own agenda.
• You have permission to start now, without the degree, without the funding, without knowing exactly where you're going.

This prompted me to come up with some for myself. I have permission to:

• change my mind.
• be unapologetic about my lifestyle.
• let my kid watch more than 30 minutes of television.
• only cook once a week.
• drop the facade that I have it together.
• move closer to my parents because it is not a sign of failure to realize the necessity of a support network, it is a sign of growth.

A permission slip. That little piece of paper that meant that it was okay for you to go on an adventure. To quote the wisdom of that skinny jean clad genius KiD CuDi:

 I ain't gotta wait for no one. 

If I wanna fly, I could fly for freedom. 

I'll be up, up, and away

 'cause in the end, they'll judge me anyway. 

So, whatever.