Lately I’ve been wrestling with some hard questions. Actually, I’ve been wrestling with hard questions for as long as I can remember, but lately I’ve been letting them have a bit of room to run.
Last week my husband and I went out for dinner. We don’t do this as much as I’d like to – for all the normal excuses of kids, time, and money. So it was much needed time together – alone as adults outside of our home routine.
We sat for hours at our favorite, casual Indian restaurant, drinking chai (the best in town) and talking. My husband is a high school teacher. He talks all day, so it’s rare that he wants to sit and simply talk for hours at night. I need this kind of connection… to share ideas and make plans. On this evening, my wish was granted, as we settled into the booth to talk.
After covering summer logistics and household projects, I wanted to get to the dreaming part.
I asked him, “Is there anything we could make or create together that would excite us and do good in the world?”
For him, that was a hard question. He’s typically pretty content – with his career, family, and life in general. (As a perpetual striver and dreamer, I often envy his contentment.)
But as we considered the question, this wild idea started to take shape between us.
We found ourselves talking about some big, intense topics that are close to our hearts.
Education. Privilege. Racism. Parenting. Misogyny.
And the hard question – What could we do to make things better?
[I know, light topics over chai on date night.]
This book and teaching idea kept taking ahold of us… like it was nudging us to at least consider it. Encouraging us to follow the curiosity, to explore the excitement.
At the same time, there was a louder counter voice, screaming “Are you nuts?! This is a bad idea. You two don’t know enough. You’ll be shot down. It’s scary. Someone else could do it better. Just stick with the plan, and let this thing go.”
The voice went on and on. It’s a voice that I’m sure that most of you are familiar with.
But, it’s been 10 days since our date night idea-fest. And I can’t put this idea to rest.
So I’m sitting with the question:
Why not me? (and why not you?)
You’ve probably had many ideas that you haven’t shared.
Questions you’ve considered, things that have excited you – that you’ve left unexplored.
We’re so often held back by some version of doubt or fear that says:
“I can’t do that.”
But why not?
Someone has to be brave and tackle the hard questions.
Someone has to share the story, the idea, the painting, the wisdom.
Someone has to contribute to the research, keep the conversations and issues alive.
Why can’t that someone be you?
As my husband and I sit with this budding idea, and the accompanying voices of doubt and fear, I keep returning to this question.
Why can’t that someone be you?
And I’m inviting you to join me in the curiosity.
Whatever the idea you’ve been mulling over, whatever the whisper or nudge… why not you?
Hit reply and let me know what your “why not you” idea is. It’s worth exploring.
Sending you love and the courage to live a “naked” life today and everyday,
Sage