Photo Credit: Camdiluv ♥ via Compfight cc
When people tell me their desires, or goals, or plans, my default position is unwavering enthusiastic support. Even if we’ve never met. In fact I have an online friend who is a writer, like he’s published actual books and everything. When he published a new book recently, I was SOOOO thrilled for him! If he’d been a lifelong friend or if I’d written the book myself I couldn’t BE more excted.
Sometimes I think this is weird, to invest so much in people I don’t know. Or more to the point, I worry they will think it’s weird. Because why should I care what they do? And what reason do I have to blindly believe in their ability to chase their goals?
No doubt this is a reaction to the normal stance people take when presented with a new idea or lofty goal – scepticism. Cynicism. Concern. It’s not that we mean to cut each other down, we’re just cautious by nature (or jerks). Yes, it would be awesome if you could acheive (insert life dream here) but really, how many people can actually do that? By all means try, but don’t get your hopes up. You know, just in case.
Today I popped into my favourite stationery store to pick up some supplies for a vision board I’m creating as homework for a course about blogging. The guy working there asked what it was for. Ignoring my standard position (none of your business, I’m not telling anyone anything so there!) I said I was creating a vision board. He asked more questions, and I ended up telling him the nutshell version of my big life vision. Finishing with, “you’re only about the fourth person I’ve told this to, actually.”
And you know what was awesome? He was SO excited for me and about my plans! Like, we’re-best-friends-high-five-for-you excited. I was blown away. Even though we’d only just met! His excitement was contagious and I had a little reinvigorating zing for my ideas. I didn’t even know the guy and he was validating my dreams – not that I need that, but it’s pretty freakin’ awesome when it comes.
So I’m going to stick to my default thank you very much. Even if people find it a little nutso-intenso when I ooze high levels of excitement at them. I’m going to keep on paying that out so I can keep on getting it back.
Because I haven’t stopped smiling since that conversation 🙂
