Christian Slater and I had the same job
This really happened (Hey, Christian!)
Remember the first day of school when everything smelled new? Maybe it was all the new back-to-school supplies wafting their smell of newness everywhere. Around the time schools were starting up again, an email notification flashed on my screen. The subject line read, "Holy Smokes!" The "From" name rings a bell. The email is from a teacher readying her new classroom who came across a piece of paper with a short poem (It's below if you're interested). The teacher turns the page over and sees my name and email address on the other side. (Cue the ominous music.) Spoiler alert: The teacher knows me! Once upon a time, we lived in the same city and were friends! Yet this was over a decade later in Key West, a town she doesn't even know I've ever been to. Now she's staring at a name she hasn't seen in 20 years, wondering how it got on this paper in Key West. The "Holy Smokes!" email was from her. It all came flooding back! I'd forgotten I'd been a guest speaker at a high school class in Key West. When I was living there, I met a local teacher who was a genius at finding people to be special people to come to inspire or teach something to her class. They even hosted Christian Slater! Yeah, that Christian Slater #InterviewwithaVampire
We had the same job! Why am I telling you this? To show you how easily we fall into the trap of forgetting what we've done and the impact we've had. Sometimes, you don't know how your work impacts someone or how long it echoes. Have you completely forgotten the result of your efforts? Things other people might be seeing for the first time? -- What's "basic" to you is an a-ha moment, perhaps even a life-changing insight to someone else. -- What you learn as a teenager, someone else may learn as a 30, 40, or 50-something. -- If you want it, put a deadline on it. If you like to learn new things, join me for the next "NSFW with Courtney" Each session smells like the first day of school and feels like an email from a friend you forgot. See what's happening at the next NSFW👉 here. Holy smokes! You're amazing, and you forgot! Courtney
PS - Register here.
PPS - Here's that poem:
There is inside you All of the potential To be whatever you want to be; All of the energy To do whatever you want to do. Imagine yourself as you would like to be, Doing what you want to do, And each day, take one step Towards your dream. And though at times it may seem too difficult to continue, Hold on to your dream. One morning you will awake to find That you are the person you dreamed of, Doing what you wanted to do, Simply because you had the courage To believe in your potential And to hold on to your dream.
(Donna Levine)
PPPS - NSFW = Not Safe For Work.
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