Yolanthe: ‘LA is fake’ – Kekmama
Photography: Mark Groeneveld
Yolanthe Cabau lives with son Xess (7) in Los Angeles. In this column she shares her experiences as a single mother and career woman.
Sometimes you have those days when everything just doesn’t go well. This was such a day. The morning already started chaotically with many work emails, a long traffic jam that meant that Xess and I arrived at school almost too late and on top of that I dropped my breakfast shake in the car, so that the whole interior smelled of chocolate hazelnut. Great morning!
‘Love your outfit’
You understand: I sometimes went to the supermarket happier. As I put my fresh groceries on the belt, I hear the cashier say: “OMG, I love your outfit. You’re so beautiful!” Immediately I forgot all the stress and hectic of this morning. This comment makes my day.
A small gesture, a loving comment, a single word. It can do so much to you. The way you look at life affects not only yourself but also those around you. You surrender energies.
Good day
I can still remember when I lived in the Netherlands and sometimes the cashier didn’t even look at me or say ‘hello’. At that moment you don’t know what’s going on in someone’s head; maybe she’s having an off day, going through a breakup, or getting annoyed with a co-worker. You do not know. So I don’t judge. But you are influenced by it: you then walk out of the supermarket with a negative energy. Other people take over the energy and might pop out a negative comment.
“A small gesture, loving comment or a single word can do so much to you”
Fake
Whether you find American statements from strangers such as “I love your makeup” “your kid is so cute” or “you look amazing” exaggerated, I have noticed that it does give you positive energy. Whether you mean it or not, you’d rather hear positive words than not even a ‘good morning’, right?
