"Do One Thing Every Day That Scares You"
Food for Thought Blog #3 – Kelsey McGillis – Sept 16 2020
Do you ever get an idea and then not follow through because that idea scares you? Do you think your idea is not a good enough and people will judge you for your opinion? That use to happen to me all the time and every single day. I used to be so afraid to say anything in fear my opinions where wrong or not good enough or people would think I am ridiculous. I learnt to stay quiet, hid, say nothing, and just bottle everything up. I used to tell myself my opinions where wrong and they were not good enough. All a bunch of false tales I use to tell myself. Once I started to gain confidence, come out of my shell, be honest with myself and respectfully speak up, I started to realize I have good worthy ideas. My best friend use to tell me I was like Bambi walking on ice with fragile wobbly legs. The more self-love I found, the more I could walk, then I began to run and be me. I wear my heart on my sleeve and the thought of sharing my vulnerable feelings use to terrify me. After finding healthy boundaries I am not longer afraid to be me!
My brother was in the hospital for medical concerns for months, which felt like a lifetime. It crushed my soul seeing him sick and frustrated. I felt so helpless not being able to help or wave a magic wand to help him get better. My family and I are so very grateful he made a full recovery and he is healthy today. That life experience will always stay with me and feels like yesterday even thought it was years ago. While he was in the hospital, I had a dream that I will never forget. I had a dream I was laying in that hospital bed writing several letters to my loved ones. I was writing them notes on everything I wished I had said to them, all the times I wished I told them how proud of them I was, how much I loved them and how much they meant to me. I woke up in a panic and sweating as the dream seemed so real. From that day forward, there is not a day that goes by that I do not share with my loved ones what they mean to me and how lucky I am to have them in my life. It can be scary sharing your feelings with your loved ones but what is scarier is not having the opportunity to tell them. Do something that scares you and share with your loved ones!
After that dream, I am no longer afraid to reach out my loved ones or to people I still do not know. I think the connection of people is a powerful thing. I know reaching out to some one you do not know can lead to rejection, but it can also lead to something wonderful. Living outside your comfort zone means you are experiencing new things, facing your fears, and growing. Take the risk and reach out to someone you do not know. What is the worst that can happen, they do not get back to you or look at you funny? Take the time to hear someone’s story, allow yourself to be vulnerable, get to know people and understand where they are coming from. Connection is the energy that is created between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued. Human connection is deeply nurtured when you share your story or listen to someone else’s story. You never know what someone is going through until you connect and who knows maybe you can learn, relate, and make a new friend. Next time you want to approach someone and are afraid, just know they are probably afraid too. Spread the cheer and reach out to each other. Smiling at a stranger can go a long way.
Be the Red Tulip in the Yellow Tulip Field.
Face Your Fears and Do Something That Scared You Today!
