Connecting With, Encouraging and Uplifting Others

Hello, we are progressing through my blog series

10 Things I Would Tell ANYONE

Today I’ll talk about things that you probably already do, but that are newer to me, like

#7: Connecting With, Encouraging and Uplifting Others

I’m going to talk about writing my book Atheist. Agnostic. Skeptic. Believer. Not only because my book coach is forcing me to shamelessly plug it (are we getting tired of me saying “shameless plug?” – just being transparent!), but also because it’s a great example for what I want to talk about. So if you are feeling twitchy because I might talk about God, well, I might make one or two little mentions about God, but it’s really more about the writing process. Okay? So don’t be a chicken-shit and read on!

If you know anything about me, you know that I’ve been a highly-functioning introvert all my life (related to anxiety but we’re skipping over that this time). I have always, always strenuously avoided all forms of social interaction with extreme prejudice! In fact, there have been times when I tried to adopt a “Yes-Man” or “Say Yes” attitude, and I failed miserably in practice. I just can’t do it. As my cousin Holly says, my first answer is always no. (I know I mentioned that before, but it just really resonates with me and gives me joy to write it – HA!)

So imagine my surprise that while undergoing very real changes over the last several years I have been able to, hmm, what’s the right word, “welcome? ” interactions with others and enjoy them and value them and learn from them. What? Who even am I?

How? Part of it’s the anti-anxiety med. Part of it’s coming to God. A lot of it is what I’ve learned about people in general through all of it. As a Christian I have a responsibility to love others, and it’s not that I haven’t been shown how. I have already received the love and support of others so much – so much that I can’t fully describe it. Throughout the long process of writing the book, discussing it with others, learning about next steps, hearing suggestions and feedback, and constantly being told I can do it – it’s been overwhelmingly awesome and I am so grateful for it all!

So I’ve gotten a little braver and I’ve not only been open to interactions with others, I’ve come to look for openings to do so. Sometimes I get a little full of myself and talk too fast and won’t shut up – well, I’m just plain awkward a lot of the time. And that’s not great. But sometimes things go really well. And I walk away thinking, “That was good. I enjoyed that, and I got something out of that. I hope they did, too. Cool.”

There’s a very easy way for me to make you believe that interacting with other human beings is important – just remember COVID-19 quarantine. EVEN I (all caps, italicized, should we do double-underlines?) being the extreme introvert I am was – wait for it – missing other people. I know right, I couldn’t fucking believe it, either. I used a naughty word there to show you how much I felt that. Like, what, are you kidding?! ME?!

So I encourage you to seek interactions with others, even if you are awkward, even if it’s a little outside of your comfort zone, even if you don’t want to. It can be really rewarding! And I couldn’t be more surprised to say so.

One more God mention – just one – another Christian responsibility is to encourage and uplift others. Man, I have taken this one to heart. People have been encouraging me relentlessly, tirelessly. It’s felt great! It feels great! And I have gone out of my way to (look for those openings and) encourage others, too! Life here is hard; we have to encourage each other. Life here can suck; we have to uplift each other! We need each other (like or not). Do yourself and someone else a favor today and reach out to someone you know who might need you to say hello, or to remind them that they “got this!” Do it!

Let me encourage you! You got this. You are supported. You are even loved – I know that for a fact. Make it a great day today! And every day! Thanks for reading!

Your friend,

Rock Rockstead is – despite your protests to the contrary – an author, blogger, artist and professional procrastinator. His accomplishments are few but he did write a book (shameless plug). Website and social media links to appear here soon. He’s not “drinking the Kool-Aid;” he’s just more upbeat lately. Come along for the ride, why don’t ya?