Hello beautiful people and welcome to this dose of Celestial Goodness. As always, thank you for joining me in this space and on this journey. See this week’s video here: https://youtu.be/i8qA6de3baM?si=_PIimCCa0Rqf4jbR
Before we begin, let us take a deep breath—you can put your hand over your heart space as you breath in, and just say “thank you.” Thank you to your body for functioning as it does. Thank you to your heart for beating. Thank you to all your organs for functioning without you telling them specifics on what to do. Thank you for life, thank you for anything that you personally feel gratitude for right now.
Each week, and almost daily, I am reminded that people are often fighting personal battles that we know nothing about. The smallest amount of kindness can transform someone’s day and even their entire existence. It can be difficult when we are faced with our own stuff to picture ourselves in another’s shoes, but it can be an emotionally moving experience to offer grace to another.
Last week was actually Random Acts of Kindness week in the United States. I found out late, but kindness is a part of my way of life, so every week is random acts of kindness week. Truly, there is no reason why we shouldn’t feel inclined to practice this every day! I think that people think everything related to kindness has to be financial, but yes, while you can surprise someone with a gift card for coffee, sometimes just checking in on someone is enough.
Sometimes your “strong friends,” especially need to know that someone also cares how they are doing. I am the beneficiary of many acts of kindness, and for those I am eternally grateful. I am also thankful because I have friends and family that check on me all the time and seem to know when I also need to be poured into. And you know—this is just your reminder that adulting is not easy. Life didn’t come with a manual that gives us step by step instructions on how to live, how to love, how to find our purpose, and how to just be a human being in the world at a time like this. Hopefully, there are more days where you feel like you are getting it right.
One of the things that has been on my mind for a few weeks has to do with the fear that is often inherent in starting something, trying something new, or learning something new. I recently started learning a new language—for those of you that will ask—it is Yoruba. For one thing, when I was in school, no one ever said, you know, Heather—you can learn an African language. So, not only has it been fun learning something for no other purpose than just for my own enjoyment, but it has also expanded my mind again in ways that bring back nostalgia to being a beginner at something.
I think that is something that when we get into adulthood, we feel that everything has to have an end result that is geared towards something productive. We often forget the joy of learning something new, of making mistakes, of immersing ourselves in something that brings us back to the beginner’s mind, and that challenges us to move outside of our comfort zone.
I am reading/listening to a wonderful book called, “Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Great Things,” and there is a chapter on polyglots.
If you know me, then you know that in my life I have studied 3 languages outside of English intensely. Those are Spanish, French, and Japanese. You may also know that when asked about my desired superpower, it was always that I could communicate with anyone, anywhere, and in any language. Yet, this superpower eluded me. I have always been amazed by my friends who knew 3-5 languages and could switch between them easily. The book mentioned that most people think that only kids are good at learning languages, but the author has met actual polyglots who learned multiple languages fluently in adulthood.
What was the secret? They were not afraid to make mistakes, to look silly in the process of learning, and they immersed themselves in the language and actually did it. That’s right—instead of just reading the books, they met people and communicated, they had actual conversations! So here I am learning a new language and I find that each lesson there is at least one tonal word that is difficult for me to say.
Initially, I told myself, well I am an adult now, and maybe that is why I am not getting it, but I will remove that excuse from my brain, and just keep trying and practicing. I am not afraid to look silly learning something. Also, a special shoutout to my friends who are encouraging me and helping me practice for my homework. Ese. (Thank you in Yoruba).
When kids are learning to walk, we don’t push them over and ask why aren’t they running marathons yet? We give them grace, and we should give ourselves grace as well. Is there anything that you want to learn? Is there anything that you want to start. I often think about how quickly time seems to be going by.
While I wouldn’t consider myself biblical by any means, when I was growing up, I had to read the bible more than once, and some of the passages stuck with me. Zechariah 4:10 says, “Do not despise these small (humble) beginnings because the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” I think too of the Tarot, and how the first card is traditionally the fool. In this card we see someone who is ready to embark on a new adventure, come what may. There is excitement, anxiousness, and a sense that anything is possible. If you have a dream or a vision that you have been sitting on—consider this your sign to begin. Why not you? Why not now?
We also live in a time where there is an immense amount of resources available to us for learning and absorbing knowledge. Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that AI is a thing.
I think as a disruptive technology, it will be with us forever more—the question is, will we learn how to engage with it, set up proper parameters, and remind each other than no matter what technology learns how to do, it will never have a heart and the emotional sensibilities of a person. We must learn these technologies so we can remember both how far we can go with them, and what boundaries need to be enforced. So, learn some new tech, learn something for fun… start now.
Dr. Seuss said it, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go…” As I would say to any of my friends—I believe in your vision and your dreams because it is your vision and dreams. Everyone doesn’t have the same vision, and I do believe that when we act on our dreams, we are offering something in service to humanity.
So, start the thing, do the thing, be brave, make mistakes, and dole out some kindness. May the stars continue to shine brightly over you! Thank you, until next time.
Celestial Goodness 