Today’s Morning Buzz is by Danielle Rogers, Community Marketing Manager for the City of Newton, Iowa. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Listening To: Let’s Not Meet: A True Horror Podcast
Reading: Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain
Watching: Cha Cha Real Smooth
In the world of engaging our residents, working with local businesses, moving our communities forward, and keeping everyone informed … the thought of not being liked is terrifying.
Not everyone is going to like you.
But the beauty is realizing that it’s not personal. Just because someone doesn’t like you (or you don’t like someone) does not mean you wish that person harm. We’re all human. My goal in life isn’t to harm anyone but to create space for everyone – including those we don’t like and those who don’t particularly like us.
And in creating that space, I’ve realized that I’ve needed to calm down. I’ve spent almost 36 months with my foot on the gas. And it wasn’t until recently that I realized I needed to calm down and create space for myself. I’ve spent months feeling guilty for sitting, reading, playing, laughing, or enjoying anything because there is always “something” that I could be doing.
But the creative slump I was in, the burnout I was feeling, those feelings were starting to eat at the edges of my humanity. And I realized that I needed to take down time and a space for myself. And I’ve learned I don’t want to be “busy” Danielle, who is doing “fine.” (Which seemed to come out of my mouth before I even thought about it whenever I’m asked “how are you?”)
I want to be excited about things. I want to be passionate about life. My new goal is making space.
I’ve begun to make a space where I feel like I can be who I want to be. I’m starting to do my best to not be busy, not over schedule. Not do too much. I’m trying to stop worrying about being liked and nurturing relationships that mean something to me. I’m leaving space for those who, in the past, would cause me stress, anxiety, and panic. Because really – we’re all out here just trying to do our best.
I am learning to leave it and be okay with not being liked and not liking. I’m the type of person who will have to work at this every day. But some of you might come by it naturally.
But I’ll get there. And I’ll be better because of it.