I’ve given this a lot of thought over the past few days.  It’s been rolling around my brain with my desire to be authentic and real.  I think there’s a lesson in here, so I’d like to share with you.  I received this message from an acquaintance last week in response to my last BLOG entry.

“I am going to make a suggestion to you, so please do not get insulted. It is great that you had a wonderful vacation but…most of us cannot afford a vacation and when someone starts off an email about how they had a wonderful vacation with their family, it is a total turn off.  So you understand where I am coming from, I have not been on a vacation anywhere in over 20 years and to hear that you can afford to do such a thing, just really rubs me/people the wrong way.  This is especially true if you are trying to get us involved in your product and work.  Just thought I would let you know how it comes off.”

Whew!  This brought up such a mix of thoughts for me.

First of all, I’m not insulted, angry, or mad.  She’s free to express.  That’s fine.

This reminded me of the following lines from a favorite poem, Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson, “Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.”

I am not about to hide or not share the wonderful things I’m up to in life, in fear I may create a ‘total turn off’ for someone.  DAMN!!  Imagine how many people I turned off by telling them I teach women how to pole dance and imagine all the women’s lives I did in fact touch in such a positive, empowering way.  I’m here to play this game called life. I’m not here to be fearful of what others may think.  I admit, this is sometimes tough to live by.  I’m going to do what’s best for me.  I’m not going to guess how other people may or may not respond.  That just creates a ball of negative, stagnant, ‘playing small’ energy.

Lovin’ life!!

I’d like to think when I share, I may inspire others to take a vacation that is long overdue.  OR maybe someone completely related to my float story and will begin to give energy to his or her desires.

As Marianne Williamson states, I am meant to shine, as children do.  You are meant to shine too!