You know what one of the best things is about having so many people in the world? No one person has to do everything. I know, that’s a hard concept for control freaks to get their minds around. But honest, it’s true. And you know what else? There are lots of different kinds of people in the world who like to do different kinds of things. So each person can do the things he or she does best and likes to do. Isn’t that amazing?
And after only fifty-three and a half years, I finally figured out that means me, too. I don’t have to do everything and I don’t have to do things other people do that I don’t want to do. Ta-da!
Leaders, like kings and queens and presidents and county commissioners, need lots of people to tell them what’s going on in the kingdom or queendom or country or county. And they need advisors to help them think things through and make big decisions. And they need people to do all the different kinds of work involved in running a country or a county, like organizing committees and collecting taxes and paperwork and stuff like that.
Actually, there’s a lot more of the other kind of work available than the kingships and queenships and presidencies and the like. I know, I know—why would anyone want to be anything but Queen? Well, not all of us really want to be Queen, at least not in the real world. Yes, of course I’m Queen in my fantasy world but in Chatham County I’m more than willing to leave that to others more suited to the roles of royalty and leadership. I much prefer working behind the scenes supporting the movers and shakers here in our little corner of the world. As John Lennon says, Well, you know, we’re all doing what we can.
It’s taken me a while, as I mentioned before, to figure out just what that is for me. I’ve tried a little of this and that, rallying to protest wars and development and nuclear power plants, partying to support political candidates, participating in art auction fundraisers, joining groups and committees, attending meetings and volunteering at a day care center full of really cool little kids. I even sang an a cappela solo for a Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration in front of a church full of people.
So? What’s so hard about that?
In a word—people.
Oh, well . . . not people per se. It’s . . . being around them. Groups of them. I read a letter written by my aunt years ago in which she said, “I’m not a joiner.” Wow. This was a revelation to yours truly. Could it be that it was okay to not join groups? It’s not pathological but hereditary? I’m not crazy it’s just hot in here? You know, that C.G. Jung said, that extroverts get energized from being with people; introverts get energized by being alone?
It wasn’t that easy, of course, to make that shift. All my life I’d heard a voice saying, you’re not like the other kids, and I knew that meant I had to work twice as hard to try to be like the other kids. Now I’m supposed to suddenly be okay with being my own weird and wonderful self? Whoa. Well, give me a minute… I think I could, like, get into that.
Some of dearest friends are those other kind—the kingly, queenly, leadership, extrovert types. And they’re awesome, wonderful people. Really. I’m not just saying that. They inspire me. And well, intimidate me, too, a little. And because they are the way they are, and there are lots of them, I don’t have to do the things they do. And you know what? I do things they don’t like to do. Isn’t that a miracle? Like writing, for example. I can wrap words around just about anything. And work this machine, too. We’re quite good friends, MacWilson and I. I can create graphics, brochures, logos, web sites—all right here in the privacy of this little room of my own.
I can support the Chatham Studio Tour by creating their web site and leave the organizing and people-managing stuff to Maggie Z. and the steering committee. I can support Chatham Citizens for Effective Community by helping with their graphic design stuff and leave the important people stuff to Rita and Gary.
So I get to do something, I get to help, but in a way that’s good for me and good for the group and good for the community. Your basic win-win-win situation. And it only took me fifty-three and a half years to learn. I wonder what I’ll learn in the next fifty-three and a half years?
© copyright Maggie Wilson, 1/16/2006
