I have an amazing wife. She's a brave soul. She puts herself out there, sometimes in pretty public situations, and does what she believes in her heart to do. She loves to "walk across the room" to where people are at, not where she is at.
My wife is confident, but she's not made of steel. She is soft-hearted woman with a big soul. So sometimes people don't "get her". Because she chooses the few, and not the many. Life is not a popularity contest, and some people will take you or leave you. That's the reality of people. And sometimes that hurts.
She recently chose to honour the few, whose journeys have been a life beyond adversity, some self-created, some not. She does not judge them. She honours them. For some, what my wife has done is to deliver some of the most significant moments of the lives of a few. Sure, she sometimes does that in front of the many, and causes some ire.
Makes me reflect on whose opinions we care about the most. Because we care. We do. Because we are human. We care because it is in the context of others that we live. Even those who isolate themselves, do so in context to that.
We care about the opinions of our parents early on, then our friends, and soon our peers sometimes enemies. Once in school it may be in the context of that little ecosystem where we want to belong, to be significant. Then our workplaces.......as we create our own ecosystems, we may even, in the case of a politician, care about the general populace, the many.
As we get older though, in private, we often revert back to the opinions of those who love us, and those we love. Most likely, the few. Those in faith life, they may hold central, the opinions of a God. The One.
There are naysayers everywhere, armchair critics, consumers and reactionaries of life. Yes, I am also often one. I judge, but don't like to be judged.
So I leave you with this question:
Do you care about the opinions of "the many", most of whom you do not know, and cares not about you, or the opinions of "the few" who have a deep interest in your life and well-being?
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4 comments:
Okay, Great post Phil! Love it........ Thank you.
Susan
Beautifully said. You know, not worrying about the opinions of others is a real feat. And one we can all learn from, glean from, and share LOUDLY.
Because deep down, we are all frail souls, surrounded by the daily constant unrealistic reminders in the media, the botox, the fancy cars and clothes, that we just aren't good enough. We're never good enough.
What we need to do is take a stand, like your wife does in her way, and CHOOSE PURPOSEFULLY each day to live out life being as real and honest and soulful as we possibly can. We need to trust our instincts more and actually follow through on them. We need to be a voice for others and act as a human mirror for others in order to let them see what an incredible individual they are - one of a kind. We're not supposed to want to be like everyone else. It's just not how we were created - that's the rub here.
You've inspired me with your words today - not just the very powerful question you ask us to consider. But in the clear and open reverent way you love your soul mate. Nicely done!
~Veronica
YTI Coaching and Mentoring Services
http://www.yourtrueimage.ca
Great article Phil and I, like you, love her just the way she is!
Sherri
You're a good man Phil. I love how much you love my friend. That's all.
Michaela.
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