[media-credit name=”Thumbnail from Sit Still, Look Pretty music video” link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdymkbLAuAk” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]

I was thinking about my playlist last night. I love music – my dad was a singer and we grew up listening to him sing everywhere we went and anytime we had people over to our house. My musical tastes tend to be eclectic. I love just about every style of music except country.

My current playlist includes everyone from Madonna and Gwen Stefani to The Doors, Hillsong, Rend Collective, Ruth B, The Lumineers, Sublime, Violent Femmes, Van Morrison, and Meghan Trainor. It’s a bit of a hot mess, but I love every song on it.

I don’t know about you, but music gets into my head and into my heart. Melodies soothe my soul. Lyrics entertain, educate and empower me. Some of it is junk. Some of it is magical.

The newest addition to my play list is “Sit Still, Look Pretty” by Daya. She sings:

Could wake up
In make-up,
And play dumb
Pretending that I need a boy
Who’s gonna treat me like a toy

Do you ever feel this way? I used to know a lot of girls who dumbed themselves down to get a boy’s attention. Honestly, I did not respect those girls. Why would you lessen yourself for ANY reason, let alone for a boy? It reminded me of something I experienced when I was just out of college.

I was at my friend’s pizza place in Boston. He didn’t go to college, but had started this business and it was very successful. I don’t remember exactly what we were discussing, but in between bites of pizza I said to him, “You’re too young to be so cynical.” I’ll never forget how he looked at me. His expression turned to anger as he said to me, “Don’t use words I don’t understand!” and walked away.

I was incredulous. First, that he thought he could talk to me that way and then turn his back on me. Second, that he felt threatened by what I had said when he had already accomplished so much with his business.

Of course I wasn’t going to take his attitude sitting down. I shot back, “Are you kidding me? I went to college for FOUR YEARS. Do you think I’m going to act stupid to make you feel better about yourself? Pick up a dictionary and learn something new!”

[media-credit name=”Screenshot of Daya’s website” link=”http://www.theofficialdaya.com/” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]

I couldn’t believe my vocabulary made him feel so insecure. Instead of asking me what the word meant, he chose to turn on me in anger. Because he perceived that I made him feel or look stupid, he tried to make me feel stupid, too. No way. Not gonna happen. Education is a very powerful tool, and I paid a hefty price for mine. There is no chance in any universe that I will ever downplay my intelligence for anyone. And neither should you.

Sadly, I’ve seen some very intelligent women act silly and stupid around guys. I’m not sure what they’re trying to achieve. Are they afraid that their intelligence may intimidate a man? If so, is that really the type of man they want? Your education is a gift. It shouldn’t be wielded like a tool against anyone, but neither should it be minimized for anyone’s sake. What a terrible waste that would be.

In my opinion, anyone who is not absolutely attracted to an educated, intelligent woman is not worthy of her anyway. Everything we learn (not just at school, but also from our churches, parents, mentors, coaches, jobs and life in general) should be used as a foundation to help others and contribute to the benefit of our families and society.

Oh, I don’t know what you’ve been told
But this gal right here’s gonna rule the world
Yeah, that is where I’m gonna be because I wanna be
No, I don’t wanna sit still, look pretty

You want to look pretty? Look pretty.

You want to rule the world? Rule the world.

You want to get your PhD? Get your PhD.

You want to stay home and raise a family? Stay home and raise a family.

But do it for you. Do it for God’s glory. Do it with strength and conviction. Do it with purpose. And don’t forget the music.

~Silva

If you have questions or topics you’d like to see addressed in this blog, please email me at [email protected]. You can read more from me at my other blog, onmyshoebox.

To read more Style Session, check out Style Session No. 27 – The Fashion Pendulum.