"What Will Others Think of 'Me' ?"

You will become way less concerned about what other people think of you when you realize how seldom they do. 

David Foster Wallace

I love the above quote and find myself laughing at this "me" a bit when I read it. I just spent hours editing a web page that I gave my most recent yoga students access to. Why? Because I was asking the question, "What will others think of 'me'?" I was programmed since childhood to ask that question whenever I did or was about to do something that would call attention to this "me". (Still hear my mother's shrill voice in my ears). 

I laugh because I am reminded by the above words how little people actually think of my "little me" when they are too busy thinking of their own. Of course, there are glorious moments when others think of us in a positive way. That's nice but that is something we cannot become attached to.  It is very brief and doesn't last before their mind takes them on another journey elsewhere. And if judging, finding fault, criticizing,  or rejecting any expression of my little me will help someone distract from the problematic focus of their little me or help to inflate it in some way...well, then maybe they will spend more than a moment or two out of their earthly life spans focusing on me and what I offer in a negative way. But even that is less than a blink of an eye in that life span...isn't it? It certainly isn't worthy of the time and focus we put into worrying about what they might think and what we attempt to do to rectify their opinion if it is negative . Crazy.

So, there I was going through my imperfect....but potentionally very helpful.... videos for anyone wanting to take yoga a bit farther... editing the notations, removing those that I thought would be too out there for this crowd..for any crowd actually. "Sprucing the place up for company" lol. All because that question was in my mind.  I offered a gift and like I do when I offer  gifts of me...I question, "What will others think of this me?" 

It is not an overwhelming thought...I have long sinced gotten past the concern I used to have for other opinion...but there are still traces there...leading me to question and revamp the value of my gifts in terms of what others might think of them, and me as a result.  Sometimes, I retract my gifts before the others actualy receive them. What a pity.

A gift is a gift. It is inspired, created, and passed on.  What others think of it is really none of my business after that. I know that...but....

There I was wondering what others would think of this gift and me as the creator and giver of it. sigh

It is funny how we assume people are going to think more of us than what they do, isn't it? What does it really matter anyway. We have one Life to live. We can't live for other opinion.

We give our gifts because that is what we are called to do...whether they are accepted by others or not.  The giving from the heart makes the giver's life  richer, if not the receiver's.

All is well