I’m in the midst of an awful cold – too soon I congratulated myself on making it though the season without getting sick! Anyways, not feeling well kind of puts a damper on new and exciting thoughts. As does working with new software for my art pictures that has me about ready to tear my hair out (that would be LightRoom). So I needed a new story to pick me up and give me a bit of energy for the studio today since yesterday I slept a lot and could probably do the same thing today.
A while back I was working through one of those on-line daily post things (I do this to make myself stretch now and then). This one was a prompt: Beautifully different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful. (Karen Waldron, Reverb10 Day 8)
I drew a blank on this.
So I asked Hubby. He said: You question authority. And you live your life not by any bottom line but by what feels right to you.
Well, doesn’t everyone? Maybe not. I needed a view from outside the pond to get me started on thinking about how I might be remarkable. His comment was enough to click my own thoughts into place.
I am an amazing facilitator. In 4 hours I can take a room of disparate folks and have them organized into working groups around issues they (not I) think are important. Once, in Zambia, I had to do an 8 hour training that I had not been warned of. About fundraising. I had no idea what might work in Zambia so I broke the group out into 6 groups of 8 and had them list all the things that had every worked for them, including the organizations that had funded them (often a closely held secret). Then the groups reported out. At the end of 4 hours, they all had a fund raising plan, and I could leave them with the idea that they had done it themselves. They didn’t need an American in the mix to tell them how. They already knew, they just had to share information.
People trust me. Strangers talk to be about their heart’s desires, and acquaintances tell me secrets knowing I won’t judge and won’t tell. Clients think I can read minds. The truth is that I’ve lived a lot of versions of “life” this go round, and have “been there and done that.” And I’m happy to share what I’ve learned along the way. Mostly I ask a lot of questions. People know without knowing they know. Like the Zambians, and like my needing my husband’s input, sometimes we just need someone to part the waters so we can see outside the pond.
I work well with all demographics but most especially with folks who find themselves marginalized because of a system (government, social, community). I not only question authority, I am not afraid to fight city hall. And when I fight city hall, I generally win.
I am a linchpin. I know how to bring people together and make a safe place for them to explore new, often scarey ideas. I am the connector who can link the dots among different groups and ideas. I am a catalyst without trying. It is in my very nature. I don’t even have to think about it. Sometimes this is a good thing. Sometimes it makes people very uncomfortable. Self included.
I am a synthesizer. I read widely and quickly, digest information across disciplines and put it back out in a format that is understandable by someone not familiar with the subject matter(s).
I understand the power of story and know how to story to create change.
I understand power itself, and all the cloaks it hides itself in. I can name it and pull it out of the shadows.
One of my greatest strengths is taking something abstract and making it concrete: be it an idea or energy that wants to be art.
I realize I don’t think of these skills (or myself) as remarkable because they are my gifts in this life. These abilities come to me without thought. They are the pond that I swim in.
When was the last time you tallied up your strong points instead of your weak points? Take a minute right now to do that! I’d love to hear at least one of your strong points in the comments – go ahead: toot your own horn!
Oh – and if tooting your own horn gives you the willies, time to get over it. You are one of a kind. There will NEVER be another you! Go ahead – tell me about your remarkable self!
Wylde Womens Wisdom
We must come together in a new way – consciously. Our stories are of individuals but only as they are told collectively do they move us forward. In the process of telling our stories as a conscious act, we begin to define ourselves and our reality. ..In sharing experiences and stories, women learn to value themselves, to recognize stagnant and destructive patterns in their lives, to name their strengths and to begin to take responsibility for their lives. Christ and Plaskow
Sooner or later someone walks through that door and pushes all out buttons. We find ourselves hating those people or scared of them or feeling like we just can’t handle them. The is true always, if we are sincere about wanting to benefit others. Sooner or later, all of our own unresolved issues will cime up; we’l be confronted with ourselves. Pema Chordon
The universe is made up of stories, not atoms. Muriel Rukeyser
6 Comments
Rita – those are amazing gifts to bring to the world – and having received some of that energy myself I know you are on the nose with that remarkable part of yourself!
My definition of friends (yes even in cyberspace) is that each time we reincarnate we bring something different with us and leave some energy behind for someone else to bring. We always recognize “our” old energy when we meet it!
Tracy
Thank you! And I love your sense of whisey and humor….I’m not good at that so much. Every now and then, but I admire those who have it right at the go. My daughter and my son both have dry wit that I love and wish to emulate. My head just doesn’t work that way!
My goodness! You set me to pondering.
If I go by what other people have told me over my lifetime…these are some of the most precious to me.
I can come to you defeated…bawling my guts out…and I know I will leave laughing and feeling better.
I know I can tell you absolutely anything and you will never judge or condemn me.
I know you are always on my soul’s side…even if I don’t want to hear it.
You are the most honest (or optimistic) person I know.
Just thinking and remembering…has made me quite humbly-happy right now. Thanks!! 🙂
I have only met you a short time ago, but I truly respected you and felt an affinity almost instantaneously…as if I had known you before.
Tammy I loved this post! You are one dynamo of a woman. 🙂
I’ve been thinking along similar lines (perhaps a bit squigglier) trying to figure out why it is I do what I do. (do be do be do)
I have a knack (and this was a hard one to admit) of being able to tune into someone and creating the perfect thing that makes the grin from ear to ear.
I, like you, have people share things openly. It’s got to be a warm fuzzy vibe I give off. *lol*
And the other thing I still have a hard time accepting, is I can make people laugh just by being my silly goofy self.
Laughter is a powerful tool in the tool box of life.
I struggle with authority, especially when it’s stepping all over my rights as a human being.
That’s all I can think of for now. Again, this is one awesomesauce of post woman!
Jana
Your amazing strength is the ability to hold space for others who are diametrically opposed
to talk. That is no small feat.
You know all that low self esteem stuff and resulting experiences? If we make all that shit into
compost, amazingly wonderful and beautiful things can grow. Because first and foremost it
teaches compassion – and Sweetie you are full to the gills with compassion.
I honor you
It’s really interesting for me to see how your personality has worked FOR you in your career! I worry too much about how mine will work against me. Especially questioning authority, and feeling things deeply. In some ways though, now that you mention it, I think those could be assets. I also always love to hear how you have worked with people and what has worked for you. Love the idea of having them all unite and help each other… very cool!
Hmm… toot my own horn? If I had to choose anything, I think one strength I have is that I can become friends with almost anyone. I can find what is similar, common ground, when other people see only differences. I like that about myself, even though the roots of that talent (codependency, low self-esteem, etc) are not the healthiest.
I will have to think more about this!