I used to be a people watcher. When I was young, Mom and Dad would take me to a rodeo or an NHL game and I would spend more time watching people in the crowd than watching the action.
I still enjoy people watching in bits and pieces but I would way rather get to know someone now.
I love to see what lights someone up. I love to seek out what is unique about someone and my most favourite thing is when someone knows themselves well enough to know their strengths and their limits, and then they let that freak flag fly.
My mom got a new 11 month old pup on the weekend, the pup is old enough to know who her person is and she is happily trying to figure Mom out and how to please her. Mom is trying to figure the pup out too. It’s been fun to watch the last 3 days because neither of them are trying to be someone they aren’t, they are just trying to learn about each other and how to work together.
I was chatting with a friend of mine whose son plays minor hockey. My friend is also a people lover and our conversations usually revolve around dreamy things like love, kids, and feelings. He’s active in the community so I asked him if he was going to volunteer for the board of directors for minor hockey. His immediate response was, “no, I’m way too soft for that job”.
It was funny because it was true. He would get eaten alive there, and instead of forcing himself into a place that he wouldn’t fit, he embraced his strengths and weakness in that moment.
I love this.
We don’t have to fit in to places that don’t work for us anymore and we don’t have to make others fit in to our mold.
We can honour who we are, and honour who others are.
We are old enough now, and have enough life experience that we can pick and choose the places that work for us.
You are not ordinary and we don’t want you to be.
You are unique, and quirky, and brilliant, and we are waiting to experience all of you.