Yesterday’s foolsletter was a guest post by my moustache, Bernard.
I began writing it, but Bernard woke up and took over. It was almost seamless - so much so that there was no disruption to the voice of the writing. Miraculous really.
It was inspiring to let something else do the writing of the foolsletter.
With that in mind, I know that many of you have funny stories. I know many of you would love to be more creative every day.
So, here’s the invite: If you have a funny story to share, between 150 and 500 words, I’d like to invite you to try sharing here. We can collaborate about the story you write AND, you’ll get the incredible stretching experience of sharing with others.
The theme of your story should be moderately light, perhaps funny and ideally human.
I’ve chatted with many of you who have revealed that you might like to write, or have considered writing but don’t know where to begin.
I get it. The notion of sharing silly stories can be intimidating.
And?
It’s great to start somewhere.
So, if you’re interested in writing a guest post here, reply directly to this email and we’ll get a conversation going.
Or, if you don’t want to write but have a funny personal growth / leadership story or idea you’d like to share, we could have a conversation, and I could relate your story to the rest of the fools here.
For many of you this is a challenge - a challenge that leads to growth.
So, step up and step into your creative foolish self.
It’s like the old saying goes:
You don’t grow the moustache, the moustache grows you.
Who you hang with is important.
The day before I read this, my son (who just finished working for 5 weeks full time for free as part of his diploma education) said he wasn't going to do this thing around our home that was related to his program because he has had enough right now with working for free. PS He IS doing it, just not in a thorough professional manner with complete documentation.
Then Jim offers a guest blog appearance. My usual first thought of "Awesome way to share the stage with aspiring writers, dude" became "Yeah, right, work for free." I was surprised at my first thought. Then, I found myself nodding. Who you hang with matters. We are greatly influenced by those we listen to, see or read. I had internalized his voice. This made me rethink my media and pat myself on the back for leaving some very negative, angry and selfish (hmmm the holy trinity?) people out of my life. My son, he's fine. COVID has been a kick in the ass. The year before that, well, I see a couple of life altering experiences of my own as a young person mirrored in his life. He is kind, intelligent and makes my heart sing when he's an ass. When he isn't an ass, it is almost unbearable joy being with him. He devoted himself to his education and it showed. His 5 week field experience evaluation was fabulous, including a reference to too much humility. He has yet to be appreciated for his efforts with money since just before COVID. His time is coming. As a mom and someone in the "caring professions" I understand feeling taken advantage of, feeling like my sacrifices are unseen and assumed. My son has experienced this for a few years. He has placed a boundary. No free work. At least, not now. In many ways, my children teach me every day. This experience is not about "free work". This experience is about setting boundaries. He is very good at this. I am not. I have much to learn from him.
Dear Jim...I feel like a guest blogger every day. Thank you for sharing the stage.