Monday Meditation: Escaping the Crab Pot

A man was walking along the beach when he came across another man fishing in the surf with a bait bucket beside him. As he drew closer, he saw that the bait bucket had no lid and had live crabs inside.

"Why don't you cover your bait bucket so the crabs won't escape?", he said.

The man replied, "If there is one crab in the bucket it would surely crawl out very quickly. However, when there are many crabs in the bucket, if one tries to crawl up the side, the others grab hold of it and pull it back down so that it will share the same fate as the rest of them."

So it is with people. If one tries to do something different; get better grades, better jobs, improve themselves, escape their environment, or dream big dreams, other people will try to drag them back down to share their fate.

Moral of the Story:  Fight your way out of that bucket of mediocrity. Charge ahead and do what is right for you. It may not be easy, but you will never share the same fate as those never try.

If you are someone trying to make a difference in the world, I don't care how large or small, you're going to get criticized.~ become deaf to their words.

If you don't conform to what others' views of what you should be or do, you're going to be the subject of ostracism and ridicule. ~ dance to the beat of a drum so loud it drowns out their sounds.

If you make yourself vulnerable by sharing who you really are, you will have a target on your heart, and there are archers who cannot resist shooting at you. Some will hit their target. ~ Be stronger in your vulnerability.

There are bullies in the world who are insecure in who they are, what they believe and are mostly jealous that they can't be you. They don't want you to know that they secretly admire you. They don't want you to believe you are doing good. They want you to conform so they can feel better about their do-nothing lives and their milquetoast personalities. ~ Don't you DARE buy what they're selling!

You, who share uplifting stories, memes, quotes- you have no idea how much that might have changed the entire focus for one person today. Or yesterday... or tomorrow...

You, who blog about your personal experiences and are honest and open and forthright in what you write- you don't know how many lives you touch or who you have helped because not everyone will tell you how much they needed to read that they are not alone. You give them permission to be themselves.

You, who teach what you know to others, don't let those without your talent tell you that you can't.

You, who dress, act, write, sing, dance, make music differently than the rest of the world.. we need you. You are integral and vital to us all. Your brilliant threads make the whole fabric a beautiful masterpiece.

Don't you EVER apologize for being YOU.

There are 7 billion + people in the world. You have a tribe, whether you know it or not. Maybe you haven't found it yet, but they are out there. Your tribe may be small, but it's out there. And, there are other tribes who will celebrate your differences, as well.

Do not let those who sit on their computers blogging about you, snarking, bitching, griping, complaining, etc.. ever stop you. Don't allow someone else's low expectations become your internal messaging. They do nothing to help the world.  They waste your time and energy when you let them get to you.

When someone attempts to diminish you and make you an outcast, it is from a nefarious agenda. It is from within them, not you.They are the dull, frayed, edges of the fabric which weaken and dampen its beauty overall- they will not make the final cut.

Be brilliant. Shine so brightly that they are blinded by your light. Your future's so bright,THEY have to wear shades. Write your unique adventure by living it boldly.

LISTEN to those who support you; the ones who say, "Why not you?"
They are the ones who matter. Your dreams are only limited by your ability to believe in them.

Be Yourself. Be EXTRAORDINARY!