ExploreTruth

I could care less what you think of me, or so I’ve tried to rationalize in times past. I mean, deep down, and maybe on a subconscious level, there seems to be something in many of us, that allows the opinions of our friends and family to affect our dreams, goals, and activities. Last year, I read a book called Slight Edge, by Jeff Olson. In it he writes about an experience that changed his life forever. One day he read a magazine article (he doesn’t give the source) wherein he learned that at the average funeral, about ten people cry. He then says, “That’s it? You mean I go through my entire life, spend years going through all these trials and tribulations and achievements and joys and heartbreaks–and at the end of it, there are only ten people who care enough to cry?”

Jeff then goes on to describe that the article claimed that out of those those attending the funeral, the number one determining factor of whether people would go to the burial site, was…the weather…This reality provided a paradigm shift for Jeff. “You mean, I’m lying there, at the grand conclusion of everything I’ve ever said and done, of everything I call my life, in those final moments when my entire life is called to account and acknowledged and memorialized by those nearest and dearest to me, those whose lives I’ve most deeply and profoundly touched…and half the congregation checks out halfway through because of the weather?!” “You know what? I don’t give a [expletive deleted] what anybody thinks of what I’m doing any more. If the odds are that iffy as to whether or not they even cry at my funeral, and chances are fifty-fifty that they duck out anyway before I’m planted if the sky happens to cry for me more than the people do…then why am I spending so much time worrying about what they’re thinking now?”

I’m not sure where this article Jeff read was published, or how true those statistics are, but I his retelling of his experience, and the general sentiments also caused me to think. I believe that we all have the ability to do more, to be more.  There are things I’m currently pursuing, that require a certain amount of sacrifice, dedication, and abnormal behavior.  Do I care what you think?  If  what I’m doing challenges your religious, societal, or employment models.  Maybe you can relate.  Is there something you want to do?  Something that you feel God has designed as your purpose.  But sometimes you find yourself allowing someone’s opinion to hold you back?  How do or did you overcome that?  Well..I’m no expert, but I have a hunch that most people are usually wrapped up in their own lives to even care what I’m doing anyway :-).  BUT, in the slight chance that there may be someone who does object in some way to me pursuing some audacious, obnoxiously large goals, here’s an advance notice:  I’m choosing not to obsess or waste valuable energy worrying about the opinions of others, and can give 2 rats (shut yo mouth) what negative people think.  Much Love people ;-)