Daryl Wood's Blog

I clearly remember my school days when my attention was drawn to who was popular and who wasn’t. I was in the latter group and made it my mission to befriend everyone else who was “left out”. It’s not that I didn’t have friends, it’s just that I didn’t find myself in the “popular” group and often felt very lonely.

Not much has changed. I have this penchant for speaking up and speaking out and challenging others. Ultimately it comes from wanting to challenge myself and my habitually disempowering attitudes or behaviours. I’m no master at conquering ALL of my self-sabotaging ways and yet I keep pressing myself, wanting more, expecting more. It might be that this is what has me going against the grain and rubbing people the wrong way. And it might be that I haven’t figured out the best way to deliver my message or respond to others.

In any case, I found myself again this past week in situations where I suspected that my words or actions who make me unpopular. Since I really value being liked, it’s a tough call sometimes. I have to determine if the risk is worth it and typically I do. For a while I might dig in my heels and keep my mouth shut but eventually, I go the way of my heart. I embrace my inner leadership and do “what’s right and necessary”.

What matters to me is that I can live with myself whether or not that makes me popular. As I broaden my efforts at community regeneration I am starting to sense that I may be losing some of my popularity in my small town. At the same time, I notice I’m gaining popularity in other circles. Maybe it’s been that way all of my life and I just didn’t realize it.