The Little Things
By Jason Marshall
The funniest and most memorable characters are always older.
Sophia’s wisecracking on The Golden Girls. Walter Matthau barking orders from behind the bench of the Bad News Bears. Statler and Waldorf, tossing barbs at the Muppets from the balcony.
Funny and memorable. And older.
But why?
From the time we hit our teens, we show the world only a sampling of our true selves. We’re guarded and mistake vulnerability for weakness, so we refuse to let anyone see behind the curtain.
Then, at some point we all become more comfortable in our own skin.
We don’t know when. We may not even realize the day has arrived. But we all get there. Typically, after the arrival of silver highlights in our hair.
No veneer. Not one face you show the world and another you see in your bathroom mirror.
No mask. What you see is what you get.
You’ve found the perfect blend of social identity and self-identity.
It may be a perspective of think it, say it. Or feel it, do it. Still guided by your moral compass and understanding of personal boundaries.
Having comfort in what you say or do—with no fear of being judged—is truly enlightening.
You’ve been living, but you feel more alive.
There are billions of people on this planet, no two made with the same cookie cutter.
You weren’t put on this Earth to be just like everyone else.
You’re truly unique. A 1-of-1. A unicorn, if you will.
In the big ice cream cooler of life, don’t be vanilla. Show your berry swirl. Your ribbon of butterscotch. Show them you’re sweet and a little nutty.
You have a mind. Use it.
You have an opinion. Share it.
You have a voice. Speak it.
There’s only one you. Don’t keep you to yourself.
Be memorable for all the right reasons.
Exude confidence. Without it you’re destined to silence your greatness.
No longer show one version of yourself to the world and keep your truth in the shadows. Be a shining light, then nothing can hide in the darkness.
Being authentic doesn’t mean being perfect. A fear of failure can be emotionally crippling, but the realization that you’re perfectly imperfect is empowering.
Simply put, be the true you.
If you’re smiling because you’re wearing a new pair of great-fitting shoes or comfy underwear, don’t be afraid to share. The reason you’re smiling, not the actual underwear.
The world needs more laughter. And more than ever, it’s craving authenticity.
We can’t trust social media for information. Or news outlets.
The disbelief of what is happening on a global scale every single day has trickled down on a hyper local level.
There is a disconnect in our own neighbourhoods because of political allegiance and perceptions of truth. Or the lack thereof.
What a zany time to be alive.
Here’s why it’s important to be your authentic self. The world needs genuineness more than ever. Surviving the present and conquering the future requires a reset. We can’t flip a switch and fix what’s wrong with the planet, but we can be a shining example of all that’s right in the universe.
Be real. Be funny. Be memorable. Be yourself.
That’s within your power. And it’s more powerful than you realize.
Don’t be afraid of what others may think or say. That’s on them, not you.
When you have nothing to prove, you have the most to give.
It’s when you choose to prove nothing that the real you emerges. So, introduce the true new you to the world and when that happens, there will be no pangs of regret.
Regret cannot live when you control the narrative.
Celebrate what others view as mundane.
Pick that fresh tomato from your garden and be proud of what you’ve grown. Treat yourself to whipped cream on your hot chocolate after nailing the perfect parallel park in front of the coffee shop. Discovering a hidden treasure at the thrift store is reason to smile.
Then tell others why you’re grinning. And do it with flair.
Start today because time is the one aspect of life that never wavers. The days are long, but the years fly by. There’s no better reason to find time to celebrate the little things in life. They make all the difference.
Jason Marshall has been a writer and journalist for more than 35 years, and is an on-air host and general manager at Valley Heritage Radio just outside of Renfrew, Ontario. And he’s truly a big kid at heart. You can email him anytime at jason@valleyheritageradio.ca
