You can’t be a wuss when it comes to sticking up for yourself or drawing a line in the “sand of ordinariness” over which you will not step. There are times in your life when you simply have to do it. But first you have to see it for what it is.
The line in the sand is usually preceded by a series of small otherwise insignificant incidents or exchanges that you either [consciously or subconsciously] chose to ignore or in some way put to the back of your mind… thinking maybe it was just you.
Pencil Sketch 8 x 12″ [after Rembrandt]
The line in the sand is drawn the split second that you realise…
“Hey… it’s NOT me!”
It’s like an epiphany of the surrealist kind.
Life is about trusting yourself… and what you do.
And believing in a greater purpose… and in what you’re trying to achieve.
It’s about wanting and expecting something more… and better.
It’s about respect.
And recognising how easily a culture of apathy and condescension can take hold.
I guess when you come to think of it… the whole of life is a University of sorts.
In the long run it will teach us many things.
But there are also things it won’t teach us… [things you have to learn all by yourself]
And there are things that no-one will tell you [either in the system or out]
And regardless of who you are…
how young or old you may be…
or where you are in your life or career.
You MUST know this:
- YOU ARE AMAZING… just the way you are! Wonderful isn’t it?
- YOU ARE FREE… to do what you want with whatever you’ve got.
- YOU DESERVE MORE… so don’t settle for less
- DARE TO BE DIFFERENT… there is no-one out there [quite] like you. Own it.
- DON’T ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO… Ask questions. Expect answers. Don’t settle. Dammit.
- YOU ARE ALREADY BRILLIANT… so polish your skillset and dazzle your detractors [grin]
- BE 100% YOU… and 10% of the people will love you 90% of the time. It’s enough.
- STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN… and the world will believe in you too.
- BE NICE TO YOURSELF… [like how you treat your very best friend]
- IGNORE CRITICISM… don’t let anyone tell you “you can’t”
YOU CAN… and you will!
That’s all.
[steps down from soapbox and exits stage left] (((chuckles)))
Where do you draw your line in the sand?
LEAVE A NOTE HERE…
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Jean,
So, so great having you “up on that soapbox”!!
YES!!! Here’s to seeing that is within…within each of us!!
You, dear friend, are amazing and incredible!!!
xoxo
Hahaha… thank you Lance! [And so are you!] I just finished reading your inspirational Thoughts from the Treehouse. Loved it because it’s just so true. You have to step outside the square you’re standing in… try something new… and be willing to change again and again. I think there should be a prize for the person with the most moves in life [grin] Because if we’re moving we’re growing as people. And that’s got to be a good thing… yeah?
Thanks for being here Lance… and thanks for just being you
Thank you for a wonderful boost of enthusiasm and positive outlook in the world that often we think is kind of grey and against us.
My favourite? “BE 100% YOU… and 10% of the people will love you 90% of the time. It’s enough.”
Thank you John! So lovely to see you here… and so glad that line had meaning for you. It sure does for me too!
Perfectly simple Jean!!!
Cheers,
Andrew
… but oh so hard for people to say [especially educators] [grin] and even harder to do.
Thanks Andrew
[great to see you btw... how've you been?]
Oh Jean everything sang out to me Thank you ! I tried far too hard to be what folks wanted and the result was a doormat called Elinor
Now I am told I am far too outspoken …..where to draw the line ?
Champagne makes me aggressive and after (next morning ) I told a couple just what I thought (73 yrs of built up agrievances brought to a head ) OUCH ! What was said can’t be taken back BUT the abcess burst and they ken noo even if they don’t believe I didn’t make it all up . ” Oh it was all done for the best ” just doesn’t make it an untruth and I am still battling with “Am I guilty ?” Line is in the sand OK but I would like to scuff it out without having to be untrue to myself …….
Yeah… I know what you mean Elinor. It’s a fine line between sticking up for yourself and offending the others… but I think it can be done. Firm but kind springs to mind [but hey... I'm no expert] I think we’re all just here doing the best we can with what we’ve got. We gotta love ourselves at least for that! We’re not perfect… we’re human. I love you just the way you are Miss E. Don’t worry so much [says me... Queen of the Worry Warts] (((chuckles)))
Great post, Jean….I oftentimes wonder “is it me?” Accepting the way we are is not a message we receive from our pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps, change-yourself, self-help oriented culture.
Yet I’ve never seen anyone who didn’t accept themselves that was really healthy and decent to those around them.
Harry… stop wondering… it ISN’T you! [grin] It’s the world. But that’s okay… because we’re okay. We’re doing our best and not making compromises… I think that’s the line in the sand for most of us. Thanks for stopping by Harry… always great to see you here
Simply perfect, Jean. How did you know I needed to hear those words that arrived in my mailbox? I need to recognize that line in the sand. Thanks!
We all do Nita… it’s hard when we’re so hardwired to do the right thing [whatever that is!] Deciding what’s the right thing [for us] is the line in the sand I think. Life is way too short to compromise who we are for what they want… [could be just me]
Lovely to hear from you Nita … hope all is well with you again in Texas and some much needed rain has fallen? Take care.
Jean,
Girl! get back up on that box!! GREAT STUFF! I am dead serious! It is awesome to find a blog post that cuts through all the crap and says “HEY!! Listen to this! This is what you gotta do!!”
A couple of my favorite lines that gave me goosebumps: “■YOU ARE FREE… to do what you want with whatever you’ve got”
and,
“■DON’T ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO… Ask questions. Expect answers. Don’t settle. Dammit.”
WOW! You have energized me today Jean! How can I thank you?!
Thanks Keith… that’s such a compliment… you just made MY day [grin]
I’m glad you picked those two [I liked them too] because they’re so powerfully connected. To be truly free… we absolutely can’t accept the status quo. We have to question everything. And know where we stand in our heart.
Thanks so much Keith for the lovely encouragement!
I was reminded of a song we used to sing at a church I used to go to. It went something like “I am free. I am unlimited. There are no chains that bind me. I am free. I am unlimited. Right now.”
I also thought of a time when I had that kind of epiphany. I “heard” the words “It is not yours.” My life was liberated after that.
Great post. Please my absence recently–I was busy becoming a grandmother!! Hope all has been going well with you.
Thanks Galen
All good here. I left a note over on your website… but simply must say Congratulations again here! I loved your gratitude points… so many things to be grateful for… and so happy that Mum Bub Dad AND Grandma are all doing very well. It pretty much doesn’t get better than that!
wow! this is so awesome…i love them all…donno which one to pick
and what’s amazing is that its rings so true “regardless of who you are…”
thanks so much for sharing
and i really connect with Elinor’s dilemma…it’s a challenge that i face too…adapting to choices of my loved ones for fear of disapproval….
really glad for the reminder
Hey Gunja
I think most of us can relate to what Elinor said. It’s an ongoing struggle to maintain the equilibrium between keeping others happy and being true to ourselves. Another way to look at it might be that if those “others” didn’t have their own agenda they would not be putting on the pressure or expecting so much. So maybe the fault is not entirely ours? Maybe the fault is not ours at all? Just a thought.
So great to hear from you… hope all is good in your world!
Thank you Gunja I am not alone……wheeeeeeeeeeeee
(((chuckles))) No Miss E… you are never alone. [Now there's a scary thought] LOL
he he
but realyy….it’s good to know that we’re not alone
It is hard to be someone I are not. In being myself, I learned to appreciate my uniqueness and known the persons that liked and loved me for who I really am. I find each of your advices very inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Karen
and welcome!
So glad you found your uniqueness and you’re sticking to it! Not everyone does. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment
Hey Jean,
Thanks for the encourging words that you have here! I really like how it’s mentioned here! It’s so postive and uplifting, and very encouraging also!
Thanks Tyler
and welcome too!
I’m happy you found some positive encouragement here. Thanks for taking the time to comment
Words to live by Jean! We are all so busy trying not to ruffle the feathers of others that we allow our own to be plucked one-by-one. It’s good to look in the mirror every once and again and remember to insist on being exactly who and what we are supposed to be. We owe it to ourselves. I read a quote recently that went something like—”Why should you try to blend in when you were meant to stand out”. I like that!
Keep up the good work!
Hi Anita
so great to hear from you!
I think most of us can resonate with this in some way or other. It takes courage to draw that line in the sand… but we must. I love that quote. It’s just so true. We need to stand out. We need to be proud of our “different-ness” and stick up for it in every way.
Thanks for your lovely comment Anita… hope all is well in your part of the world?