Are YOU Amazing?

Ok.  I’m probably going to offend some people, but this has been on my mind for months, and I gotta unload.  (Disclaimer - politically incorrectness and sarcasm may ensue - I make no apologies)  

Also - Included are pics of some of my most favorite ordinary amazing peeps.

Social media (and just the media) has done something to all of us, and while I use it and have been caught up in it, I’ve begun to take a harder look at the effects in one certain area.  I don't even have a word for this, but let me describe it.  Let’s say Joe or Jane Shmoe has a FB account.  Joe (or Jane) (according to FB) is an author, a fitness guru, an advocate for homelessness, a foster parent, a successful businessperson, lives in mini-mansion decorated by professionals, is good looking and a motivational speaker.  And for the heck of it, he/she can also play the piano like nobody’s business, has ‘rock-hard’ abs, and drives a Lexus.  Joe/Jane and their “fans” post things regularly about who else?  Joe (or Jane) Shmoe.

The Schmoe's

  The limelight sparkles in their eyes, they are perfectly coiffed, waxed, “eye-browed” and they are flush with cash; they are the epitome of all that we wish we could be.  Social media doesn’t post the sleepless, anxiety ridden nights, the times when they have a nasty cold or unpaid bills.  We don’t see Joe/Jane when they are in their ugly sweatpants, when they ate the whole pan of brownies, when they miss appointments or when they have an argument with a significant other.  We only see the shiny and polished side. 

And yet… who do we compare ourselves to?  We gawk and applaud and wish we were more like the Shmoes.  We tell them they are gorgeous, brilliant and, here’s that word, AWESOME.  We want to be like them and in doing so, we compare ourselves endlessly to them.  We give them titles, like “strong woman”, or “strong man” or “going places” or “on the fast track” or “a REAL leader”.  Titles are okay and often necessary, as long as they aren’t diminishing your own worth.  And I really feel like that is what is happening.

Let’s compare Jane or Joe Shmoe to Steve or Susan Steady - or just single parent Steady.  The Steady’s wake up to an alarm clock and hit the floor running.  They get the kids up and ready for the day, getting showered and dressed amid interruptions.  They eat generic cold cereal for breakfast before Steve heads off to his construction job where he is a supervisor  OR  Susan, drops off the kids at school and daycare, swings by the local shelter and drops off canned goods, and then heads to her job as a manager at an office supply store.  They work hard all day, doing what needs to be done.  Susan or Steve gets off in time to pick up the kids and then run them to dance lessons or sports, then heads to the ball-field to coach little league.  They gather for dinner time where the family reconnects before the hectic-ness of homework, chores, and bedtime.  Steve or Susan has never been on the front page of a magazine.  Neither has run a marathon, written a novel, or has a patented invention.  They aren’t necessarily in prime shape physically, nor are they fashionable dressers.  They have never spoken in public, nor do they drive a fancy car, let alone a NEW car.  They stretch and skimp to pay the bills and give the kids what they need.   And in my mind, it takes an INCREDIBLY strong person to do this day after day for 20, 30, 40+ years with little or no praise other than a quick hug and a ‘thank you’. 

Here’s the kicker;  the Steady’s do this every. single. day.  For years.  It’s not the occasional blurb on the internet.  It’s not just the picture in the newspaper.  It’s not just the fanfare of a weekend race.  It’s every day.  This, folks, is true STRENGTH.  Sound familiar?  This is most of us! It takes strong people to do this day in and day out without all the glitz and glamour and applause of the world (or Facebook).  AND WE ALL DO THIS!  Every day!  

We push the vacuum, fix the leaky faucet, and run to the grocery store; we try to keep up with the laundry while drying tears (often our own) while cleaning up what the dog did on the floor.  We deal with sticky kisses and disappointments and bounced checks and cars that need fixing.  And every night when we go to bed we know we will do it again the next day.  And why do we do it?  Because there ARE sticky kisses and too-tight hugs and tears that need to be dried.  There are jobs to be done and people to aid.  There are unmet goals we want to meet and there are smiles waiting for us when we help a friend.  Most of all, there is the warm feeling that comes when we can look in the proverbial mirror and feel that we did it; we made some small differences, we made it through another day and there were some dang good moments in that day. 

Ordinary peeps - untouched and amazing!

It’s time we start applauding ourselves in the privacy of our minds and hearts.  The world doesn’t need to know all that we do.  It’s just us and God that needs to know.  You, I, We are the bright faces whose praises aren’t sung for  society's accolades.  But we can sing our own praises in our hearts.  We will only have time to realize our own greatness when we stop racing around trying to be that photo-shopped perfect person on your computer or TV. 

 Look inward - not outward.  Slow down and think for a minute:

“Who is AMAZING?”  

I’ll tell you. 

YOU ARE!