01/13/2026
Be your own advocate. It’s ok to speak up for yourself.
“You know what? I will have you remake it. I can pay for it, too.”
This afternoon I went to lunch with my sixteen-year-old. We both ordered, and what was delivered to me was not what I’d asked for. When I asked if this was the right dish, the sweet gal working realized it was something different and said she would remake it without any problem.
My first reaction was immediate.
“No, no, it’s fine.”
But as I sat there, pushing the noodles around, I realized I didn’t actually like what I’d been given. My son knew it too. He said, "She said she'd remake it, Mom." And then another thought followed.
It is okay to speak up.
I know this sounds small. But I am usually the person who just accepts things as they are. The one who doesn’t want to inconvenience anyone. The one who swallows discomfort so nothing feels awkward.
So I did something uncomfortable (for me). I asked her to remake it and offered to pay, even though she wouldn’t let me.
While I waited, I felt a quiet kind of pride because the former people pleaser in me had spoken up. And I was so aware that it didn't create a scene and it didn't cause the "end of everything."
It was a simple moment.
When the dish arrived minutes later, I took a bite and then said to my son, “This is what I hoped for. I’m really glad I said something.” He just smiled.
I know it’s a tiny moment. And really a bit insignificant in a world filled with giant issues. But sometimes the small creates a shift in one's heart, too.
So my friend, may my experience be this reminder for you:
It is okay to advocate for yourself.
It is okay to ask for what you need.
It is okay to care about your own experience.
It is okay to speak up.
It is okay.
I appreciate you all.
Always learning, always learning.
~Rachel