Strength

I have some time this afternoon while everyone is in classes. I'm going to take it and use it to tell you about something that is important to me. I'm going to try to describe a point of my world view, something that is fundamental to understanding me or anything that I do. I hold this view because I think that it is true and so I'd like you to think about it. If nothing else, take it and use the knowledge to help your relationship with me.

Let me give you a situation. There are two friends, A and B, hanging out together. A is a funny person. A is so funny that both are keeled over laughing within a short time. So, in a way, for those few urinated moments, the skill that was A's is shared between them, or at the very least, it doesn't matter who the funny one is. Now say the two friends are separated and with other people. A is still making jokes and there is still laughing but something is missing. B and their irresistible laugh are gone. In fact B is with C, who is a bit of a humorist but nothing as good as A, yet they are laughing too, just as much as A is with D. Why? Because B is so good at laughing and having a good time that they actually make C more funny. Their strength builds up another person.

How many times have you been nervous to do something in front of other people? When has it been harmful to have a friend there who believes in you? Maybe the best you have is a person who has all the pride in the world and they can be a real jerk sometimes and the best they can say is that "you'll do well because I'm up there too and I never screw up" but it helps. And you know it helps. Their pride, which for you in this moment is strength, becomes your strength too when you go up there with them.

To make a personal example: small talk. When I am with a person who is outgoing and likes to talk it makes it very easy for me because I can relax and through out witty comments. I love doing that. They can carry the conversation, that does not bother me at all. But the opposite is a disaster. If I am with a person I do not know and they are nervous about meeting new people and quiet and introverted I am making stupid comments and stressing about how exhausted my conversation pool is after 3 minutes. If I have to carry the conversation, with someone I don't know, I generally fail. My weakness becomes obvious. But when the other person has strength, even just enough strength for a positive vibe or two, then it can seem as if I am good at those sort of conversations.

I think that strength, if it is real strength, is like thermal energy. It has no choice but to transfer from a place where there is more to a place where there is less. And the more that there is, the warmer each person is in the end.