January 5, 2013
Today, Magic was learning some agility tricks with a new trainer. When we were doing the tricks, she kept on telling me to cheer louder.
I was ‘kind of’ fighting her on this.
“He hears me…. he’s doing the trick”
“Yes, but cheer louder – make it more fun,” she said.
Oh man. Leave me alone. I thought in my head.
And then I started thinking about this. Why don’t I cheer louder?
I don’t want to.
I don’t need to.
It’s stupid.
Embarrassing too.
Why do I need to do it anyway?
It’s part of the activity. It’s part of the way you do it…
I don’t know. Oh well….
But then I thought about it more while I was driving home. Why is it that I don’t get more excited? Why is it that I don’t cheer louder?
I hate cheerleaders. Those super perky people are annoying. They’re fake.
Maybe I also don’t cheer louder cause I figure, what’s the point?
This made me think of my business. Do I not cheer loud enough for my business? For my work?
This could be a reach… but let’s just play it out. Let’s explore…
Am I afraid of standing out? Like really standing out? And looking stupid?
Do I not “cheer louder” because I think others won’t cheer with me?
This makes me think about leading my VIolence Movement and trying to get others to follow me.
Do I need to “cheer louder” to get more people to follow me? And follow this movement?
I don’t know…
Maybe.
Maybe I’m too quiet.
Maybe I don’t give it my all.
Maybe I don’t cheer louder because I’m afraid I’ll fall flat. Be left in the cold. Look stupid. Be alone.
But here, in dog training class, what a good place to practice really sticking out, “cheering louder”, being enthusiastic, being OVER THE TOP.
I know my dog, Magic won’t let me down.
I know he’ll come to me when I call him.
I know he’ll do the trick I’m trying to get him to do.
What would happen if I gave it my all? And really got excited? And CHEERED LOUDER?
I only have a few classes left in the pass I bought… but I’ll try this. And see how it goes…