“A waker is someone who is very good at waking other people up from their metaphorical slumber, temporary or otherwise.” – Hugh MacLeod
So, are you? A waker I mean.
I am.
I look back at my life and remember all the times I just had to rock the boat and wake people up.
Being a waker had me leave the 9-5 world and become a coach, a job that actually pays me to wake people up.
Life’s funny like that.
But being a waker isn’t necessarily an easy path in life.
As Hugh MacLeod says,
“A waker reminds you on a constant basis, just how alive you really are….And there’s something about their influence that makes you utterly unable to go back to “sleep” ever again, in spite of your best efforts.”
Think about it. . .a lot of people don’t want to be woken up. Waking up takes courage and it’s so much easier to keep your head down and play it safe.
Sometimes. . .not often, but there are moments. . .I wish I could go back to those days of being less conscious, less awake.
But not really.
I am what I am, a waker.
I think you are too. But you might be hiding it.
Hiding your light and playing it safe.
But life needs you.
It needs more wakers; more of you to own who you really are.
I get it.
It’s not always easy. Others might have a hard time with it.
Who the hell do you think you are to be waking people up?
Why do you have to rock the boat?
Sit yourself down; quit stirring things up.
And so on.
Those comments and opinions threaten your aliveness.
Ignore them as best you can and wake up anyway.
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman
Come alive.
It’s what you’re here for.
I LURVE shaking people up, getting them fired up and passionate! Passion feeds life and we need more of it day to day!
However, I found for a long time I was SO focused on being humble that I forgot to allow this little light to shine!
Reminds me of this fantastisch quote from Marianne Williamson, which I posted on my blog not so long ago:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that
we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that
most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a
child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s
nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel
insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were
born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just
in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we
unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re
liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates
others.”
Love, love, love it.
Shine, shine, shine baby!
(And, yes, I’m a bit hyper today ‘cos it’s my BIRTHDAY! Woo!)
😉
~Nikki xo
It’s not my birthday, Nikki, but you just gave me a great gift. Shining your special light on my most favorite quote of all time. Thank you! Consider yourself hugged — my birthday gift to you. And may your special day be full of love, light, and laughter — in whichever order you prefer! 🙂
YOU my friend, are definitely a waker 🙂
Happy Birthday Nikki! Here’s to another year around the sun shining your light like a supernova!
I am, indeed! And Howard Thurman’s quote is one of my fave’s! Whenever I get too wrapped up in giving the world what I think it needs (e.g launching my new Breakthrough Adventures biz)—and forget that the reason I’m doing it in the first place is because coaching, teaching and diving is what makes me come ALIVE—I think of this quote. Or someone reminds me. Thanks, Sandi!
It’s easy to get caught up in ‘what we think they need’ isn’t it? Instead, there’s just another opportunity to come alive and share your joy. Because that IS the point, right Jason? xoS
Very inspiring post, Sandi. No more snooze button 🙂
Daniel, you inspire me and so many others regularly, so I’m happy to offer the same. Thank you for being here and being one of the most consistent wakers I know!
I agree with Daniel, Sandi. You had the Inspiration Muse sitting on your shoulder when you wrote this piece. Woo hoo!!! You’ve got me all jazzed up. And wondering where you get all your great quotes. They are always so apropos to your posts. I think you are waking me up to start collecting quotes. 🙂
Love the waker metaphor. I’m a waker upper — it’s why I’m here, why I write. I seem to go about it the same way I wake up in the morning. Sometimes I jump out of bed, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and eager to meet the day and go wake people up. And sometimes I groan, turn over, pull the bedcovers over my head, and try to go back to sleep. I don’t wanna wake up me or anyone else, thank you very much!
Luckily the bright-eyed mornings are more frequent than the moany-groany ones. Because, when you think about it, isn’t it a great privilege to be a waker upper? Besides, it is — as you have reminded us, Sandi — why we’re here.
I don’t think those urges to roll over and go back to sleep ever go away. Maybe that’s to remind us each and every day that it IS a privilege to be a waker!
p.s. I’ve been collecting quotes as long as I can remember 🙂
I just realized from your comment here that you have a website… off to read your writing.
Uh oh. Now I’m nervous, Daniel. And I hope you’ll become a regular reader/commenter on Star Polisher. 🙂
If the law of attraction is in operation here, we’re ALL wakers Sandi! If I had to get it down to a term, though, I’d say I’m a “gatherer”. I have always been gathering people, community building before I knew it was called that. Maybe I do it to wake them up, but maybe we need one another to keep awake, I don’t know! 🙂
Lori
I love the idea of needing one another to keep awake!
Being witness to others really coming alive and going after their dreams is a beautiful thing. I can’t fully articulate with words how it makes me feel, but I can say that it’s what makes the work I do so incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. It’s what makes me come alive.
Thanks for such a wonderful, inspirational post, Sandi, and for being such an amazing waker yourself.
xo
L
PS…love it that you’ve been collecting quotes for as long as you can remember. Me too. Love, love, love a good quote. ; )
I knew you were a kindred spirit!!!
Love this so much!
A while ago, someone commented that I’ve changed ever since I’ve been in my relationship with my current boyfriend, and I couldn’t pinpoint what it was she meant by it at the time.
But this makes it more clear – he and I are both WAKERS. We hold each other accountable to stay on top of our sh*t even when it’s not easy, whereas I used to let a lot slide by (and quite frankly not stand up for myself enough).
In fact, my boyfriend is such a waker without effort – he always seems to ask the tough questions, earning himself the nickname Barbara Walters by friends. I can’t wait to share this with him. 🙂
Love this Sabrina! It’s great to be surrounded by wakers. Even when I don’t like it, I love that they hold me accountable 🙂