I throw these vignettes out and sometimes think I’ve gotten it mostly right and sometimes not so much.  I think, “this comes across like you’re an expert and you’re not.”  That’s part just  the usual second guessing as well as a genuine want to get it right for you and I. 

Thankfully, I don’t think there’s a right or a wrong to most of this. It exists to hopefully make us step back and ask some questions,consider our paths and remind us that where we are isn’t set in stone. That’s a good thing, as old habits die hard and there’s a lot of 1 step forward, 2 steps back. 

I have an idea I keep coming back to. The idea that eloquence does not equal expertise. One of my daily reservations about writing is the idea that I am coming to you from a position of created expertise. Created meaning by me. Again, most things I write about are opinion based so there is some leeway, but I so desperately want to honor authenticity that it sometimes feels dirty when I write like something is a matter of fact.  That my eloquence in presenting a point of view says “well I read it on the internets so it has to be true.” 

So what’s the answer?  One guess is to remind you that this is just stuff I think about and that a lot of times I write and don’t spend a lot of time re-examining  in detail. I’ve thought about changing this practice, but when I do the posts lose steam and get worse not better. Seems odd but it’s true.  

It’s like losing your thought when someone interrupts you. 

But what makes an expert anyway?  A degree?  A good idea?  Studies to back up any argument?  What then about gut feelings?  I think you could argue for any but experiences and life are as big an education as anything. And really it isn’t like I’m espousing  holistic cancer treatments or crack investment strategies. I’m simply encouraging you to do the things you say you want to do.  Reminding you that everyone struggles sometimes and hopefully making your day a slight bit brighter. 

From the messages I receive, it’s helping. So yeah, I guess I am an expert. 

#hugsandhi5s