Looking Up
I grew up with two brothers – one who is 8 years older than me and one who is 15 months older than he is. Winning at anything was a losing proposition unless they were placating me. One brother says he decided that I was his personal pet. The other brother said most days somewhat of a pest.
That’s not to say we don’t love each other to death . . . But relationships and little kids can wear on big brothers’ smiles, and I was a little kid who was particularly good wearing things out. It was a lonely “talent” and it often caused responses that made me feel smaller than the little kid I already was.
Yet as I look back, I realize that I learned a lot from my brothers who choose not to entertain the pesty, persistent interrupter that I was.
I learned to find my own measure of how big I am.
With enough practice walking off with my chin on my chest, I figured out that it’s hard to smile when I’m looking down. I also noticed that sidewalks and feet present limited possibilities to think about. We’ll not even talk about how boring I find mulling over the idea of the world is against me again.
Looking up has much more to offer than looking down.
Just raising chin makes me feel taller and like I belong. Looking up offers new perspectives and possibilities. Even if I imagine myself tiny enough to stand under a flower I feel important enough to accomplish what I came here for.
Looking up is where the light is, where the clouds can take any form.
When things get big and I’m overwhelmed by it all, I look up. I feel power.
It’s hard to feel less than anyone else under the sky that’s bigger than everyone.
What do you do when the world makes you feel small?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
image: sxc.hu
Work with Liz!!