Why is it that we feel shy to tell a stranger something nice?
Will they think we are weird? maybe. Will they feel touched? maybe.
Will we completely make their day? that's possible too.
Maybe we are a little shy because we are afraid of feeling weird?
Lately I've been less worried about what they might think and more worried about being myself and saying how I feel. I am more worried about showing my kids not to be scared to BE WHO THEY ARE.
So recently, as I was sending a random tweet to someone I was thinking of, that strange feeling popped into my head. Will she think I am weird? It made me start wondering to myself what made me feel blocked from doing things like this in the first place. Because in my life today, I have decided it's worth the risk. I don't want to regret not sending out the love later on. That "love note" was from the heart without worrying about being weird or not.
I was sure that I just had to see the world through rose colored glasses and then, well, the world would be rose colored. One day, a young couple (about our age) moved into the house right next door to us.
I was so excited to see that it was a couple that maybe we could relate to! I decided that I should be neighborly. JUST LIKE THE MOVIES...
so I made them a batch of my famous chocolate chip cookies.
I filled up a pretty basket and attached a simple note that said welcome neighbor.
I had never done anything like this before and I was excited at what their reaction might be.
DID I GET MY MOVIE TALE ENDING?
no.
for ever more they acted like I was weird.
Why?
Maybe they thought they had a Miss Kravitz on their hands. {gosh, I loved that show}
maybe I came off as overbearing. Maybe they didn't like chocolate chip cookies.
Maybe, maybe, maybe.
I was young, I was suddenly gun shy.
I never gave another welcome basket to anyone.
Now, over 13 years later I still think about it.
And I laugh at that young Mary poppins.
I wasn't the weird one. They were! To act so strange about someone just trying to do something nice...
Or maybe more people need to start passing out those glasses.
My point is, it's nice to do nice things.
There is nothing wrong with paying a stranger a compliment.
Maybe at some point something made you gun shy too?
Let it go.
Today.
simple notes...
I love your shop.
I love your tweet.
I just wanted to say hi, I was thinking of you because I just am.
I have finally decided it's ok to risk that feeling, that they might think "I'm weird."
Because actually I am not.
I am just saying how I feel.
And you should too.
I give you permission....
and I'm probably older than you....
and, you have to respect your elders ;)
