I’m tired of people thinking I’m stuck up, too smart, or showing off simply because I am passionate about something they don’t understand. Has that ever happened to you? The more deeply you express your passion, the less understood you are – by anyone but a very few. So what do we do? Not talk about our passion? Or monitor where we share? I found another solution.
Not too many people are truly passionate
We are among the very passionate. We love what we do. We are excited about what we learn. We are creative, productive, and thoroughly immersed in our process of discovery. That’s what we talk about. Not very many people are that passionate. They are content to talk about everyday things: what they are cooking, wearing, who they are playing cards with, how their golf game was, who is doing what. Those are their areas of interest. It is not a good fit with ours.
We are criticized
I live in a senior community. I am an active writer and educator with a blog and ebooks and courses and podcasts. That’s what I do. That’s what excites me. That’s what I talk about because that’s how I’m spending my time. Some people think I am bragging.
Another resident is a former programmer. Her conversation is about rebuilding her computer. That’s exciting to her. One resident said to me she didn’t like that person because she was showing off.
Too often we criticize what we don’t understand. We see it as someone trying to be better than, to show off, to brag. When in fact, they are simply sharing their passion for their unique area of interest.
I joined a new tribe
I can stop talking about what interests me to the people around here. But that leaves me with a complete lack of interesting conversation on the majority of my interactions. It is clear I need a new tribe. I need to go hang out with people who were interested in similar things, who think my observations, insights, and enthusiasm add to their life. I went online. I took some classes that had forums filled with like-minded people willing to exchange information and learn from each other. I started the Deeper Song Community on my own site as a place to encourage, support and learn from each other. Do you need a new tribe? What do you need from it? Where are you going to find it?
Don’t try to fit it
I still have to find a way to make peace with this physical environment. There are people on staff who are vibrant and interesting. I participate by editing the community newsletter. That gives me the freedom to contribute but only work with one like-minded staff member. I don’t want to fit in. I don’t want to be normal or average. I want to live the best life I can live, to push myself to the limits of the gifts I have been given. It’s tempting, when you stand alone, to think you may be wrong. But I’m not. Standing tall and pursuing my passion are the right steps for me. That’s all I can do – follow the path I need to be on. And honor the varied paths of others.
Stay true to yourself
Keep expanding your gifts and talents. Keep making a difference in your world. And let the chips of non-understanding fall where they may.
Join the Deeper Song Community
The Find Your Tribe Series
1 – When People Don’t Understand Your Passion
2 –Do You Need a New Tribe
3 – How to Identify Your New Tribe
4 – How to Change Yourself For Your New Tribe
5 – How to Participate in Your New Tribe
To Sing a Deeper Song consider:
