Becoming

I’ve been thinking about you for a while, wondering if you’ve wondered where I’ve gone and who might want to hear what I have to say. And with that thought, I’ve pretty much completely psyched myself out of writing (something I actually really love to do) for kind of a long time. Now that doesn’t mean I haven’t been living life and doing things, but somehow this blog came to a stop because I’ve thought I’m not really the kind of person people would want to listen to.

Have you done this also? Have you let questions like, “Who really wants MY opinion? What kind of insights do I have to offer? Will people actually take me seriously? Why would anyone care about what I have to say?” And my personal favorite, “Who do you think you ARE anyway?”

A few weeks ago I was with a friend that was running for office in our community (which I am extremely excited to report, WON!). During our talk, we spoke about our passion for the community, things we would like to see happen and our misunderstanding of why people can’t/won’t allow themselves to take pride in our community and DO something to make it better.

I began that when people recognize that their last name doesn’t come from one of the political dynasties, they feel powerless to make change. I shared that I did not come from a “connected” family, and I had in fact felt this way. Sure, I grew up with my parents involved in our (very small) town through a local fire company. You know, volunteer fireman, clam bakes, picnics, women’s auxiliary. A local councilman would pay my dad a couple of bucks to pass out candy bars with their campaign card wrapped around it and ask for their vote, that was about how far we were politically connected. Civic duty consisted of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and marching with my girl scout troop in the local parades. As my convo continued with Mr. Future Politico, he suspected that my participation in a local leadership program was the beginning of my own civic involvement.

And I said, “It wasn’t so much [the program], as it was them giving me the tools to realize that I didn’t need to BE somebody, to be involved.”

We both kind of looked at each other and realized that I said something kind of…profound. It was one of those epiphany moments where something comes out of your mouth without any premeditation and it’s just plain ‘ol truth. I seriously surprised myself and realized this isn’t only about voting, volunteering, writing to the editor of the local paper…this is about EVERYTHING you think that you don’t feel that you have the RIGHT to be, have or strive for.

Somehow giving ourselves permission to communicate ideas with others or pursuing goal or new paths has been undermined with fears that you are on an ego trip rather than recognizing that your ideas, emotions, opinions, journeys and tales of wonderment & woe are the core of connecting with others as well as making change for our own lives.

So I tell you this, you are never too old, different, indifferent (don’t be indifferent, lol), in-too-deep, big, small, unnoticed, over-exposed, under-educated, over educated, unconnected, disconnected, poor, rich, lazy, OCD or any other description you give yourself to be unworthy changing who you think you are. The same statement applies to having an opinion. The same statement applies to being involved. You… no, We have the power and the right to change and influence others.

As we move through this life, we become more. To desire that is an instinctual thing. To recognize that you are worthy, is an ephiany. We are worthy of doing so, we are expected to do so. And no matter what you believe, people are just waiting, for you.

~L