Tuesday Thoughts: Be THAT Person

It’s about to get real feels-y in this piece. I started this blog because, for some crazy reason, I think by sharing my story, my struggles, my triumphs, and my knowledge, I’ll be able to help someone. Maybe not directly…and maybe not immediately. But somehow, people will find resolution, motivation, a plan of action, or even just consolation knowing that they aren’t alone.

It’s not easy opening up. In fact…it’s TERRIFYING.  I kept a lot of the things I’ve struggled with bottled up and despite the fact 97.5% of the people I know probably caught on to a lot of it, I never openly discussed things.  It was one thing to start writing a blog that I privately kept to myself and shared with my husband and immediate family. It’s a whole other beast to share with the world. BUT, I know that I want to make an impact and that requires more than self-acknowledgement. I saw this quote  and it really sunk in (I’m pretty sure it was directed toward school teachers, but I’m just gonna roll with it):

Ah yes. There’s my handy dandy WHY again. If I have the chance to be THAT person who helps someone achieve their wellness goals; if I have the chance to be THAT person who shows someone that it’s ok to step outside their comfort zone and #slay; if I have the chance to be THAT person who just makes someone feel like they aren’t alone, then my moments of being “terrified” seem pretty trivial.

Just imagine what would happen if, every once in a while, we all actually took this into consideration. I urge you take a few minutes and think about THAT person that YOU really needed when you were younger (whatever “younger” may mean to you). Like, really, toilet time, think about it (too much?). What can you do today or tomorrow that would really set an example? To reach out to someone that may have gone through something similar to your own experience? It doesn’t have to be earth-shattering. Sometimes, just knowing someone is there who gets you can mean the world.

Here are a few examples:

• Taking some time at work to connect with one of your interns or junior employees just to chat about life (and I don’t mean about the weather). Maybe it’s in the coffee room; maybe it’s an actual lunch or lunchtime walk; maybe it’s at happy hour….Everyone can use a mentor and/or friend in a place that occupies like 70% of his or her weekly waking hours (probably an exaggeration, but you catch my drift). And lets be real…lots of crap goes on during those few years post college. Help a girl (or guy) out.
• Make a healthy meal and encourage “family dinner time.” Stress the importance of sitting around a dinner table and enjoying meal time together. I know it’s hard…and there’s no time…but make time. Make it a priority.  It doesn’t have to be every night. When Matt and I started eating dinner together, even if it’s not EVERY night, it made a big difference (even Charlie the dog enjoys family dinner underneath the table..)
• Email, call, or text one of your younger relatives or quasi-relatives just to check in. See how things are going. I think we can all agree that there are some pretty rough years during which we could have used someone we trusted  and admired to talk to us on a real level. You know, besides our moms.

Really think about this. Make this special and specific to you. You’ll get a lot more out of it if you’re empathetic to the situation. Insert record scratch.  “Hey girl, I’m the one that needs the help. I don’t think I’m in a place to help someone else.” WRONG. We all have something positive to give and to share…even if it’s just that blessed gift of listening. As an added bonus, life has a funny way of showing us that little acts of reaching out  and “setting examples” often benefit both parties involved. Food for thought. ~ Xtina