Move to get Acknowledged

"Forget about being world famous, it's hard enough just getting the automatic doors at the supermarket to acknowledge our existence." -Doug Coupland

Walking Alone

Not long ago, I was walking down the sidewalk in a large metropolitan city. There were scores of people walking towards and with me. Some would be entering stores while others would be running out in order to catch a bus or taxi. I am sure you have been in a similar situation, lots of people passing by and you being one of them.

What I remember most is that nearly everyone was oblivious to each other. Each person was wrapped up in their own world. There seemed to be no acknowledgement of the fact there were others in close proximity.

I certainly understand that people have thoughts on their mind, have places to go, appointments to keep. But on that crowded street, I felt lonely and that feeling was going against some of our basic human needs for esteem and belonging.

Hierarchy of Needs

An American psychologist, named Abraham Maslow, wrote in 1943 a paper called "A Theory of Human Motivation". In it he described his "Hierarchy of Needs" which is a pyramid depicting the levels of human needs, psychological and physical.

What I found interesting is that if I looked at someone, smiled or said hello, that loneliness collapsed. In nearly every case where I did, the other person smiled or responded nicely and without any rude gestures. It was one person acknowledging the other in a world filled with too much to do and too little time to think of others.

Extending a Smile

Everyone needs some level of acknowledgement in their life. It validates our existence and raises our hopes of a great life. There are many things that being acknowledged impacts at both physiological and psychological levels. Being lonely can lead to a lack of happiness in life, but there are ways for you to combat it.

Gretchen Rubin wrote The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun and also hosts a blog with the same name, The Happiness Project. She wrote in a Psychology Today article, about strategies you can use to combat loneliness.

In short (read the entire article for more detail);

Movement creates change

It was this last step, a step out, movement in which I acknowledged others. In return they acknowledged me and the lonely walk became a walk with friends. It changes the whole atmosphere.

Sometimes, to change our place in life, we have to create the movement. We have to be the ones to step out, acknowledge others by smiling and simply saying hello. You will be amazed how it changes your life when you change someone else's life.

Stay inspired my friends.

Don't Stop Believing

"The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone." ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

When we finally make the decision to begin movement in our life, to finally begin that walk to our dreams; the walk can be a lonely one. The street may be empty and void of others. You hold the dream inside and no one else can see it. The wonderous vision that is yours setting you out on a journey is not always embraced by others.

Think of the movie "Wizard of Oz" in which Dorothy sets out on the yellow brick road.



Her journey begins with many people excited and cheering her on. But the journey is long and very soon she is by herself. You will find yourself alone after the excitement and pumped up enthusiasm wanes. It will become lonely and you will have to overcome the urge to stop.

Eventually, others will join you on this journey. The important thing is to never stop believing in your dreams. Keep moving forward. The following video is by a band from my youth. Somehow we start out young and bold. As age grabs hold of us, we allow it to slow us down and puts doubt inside.



Yes, we did tend to dress and let our hair grow out like that. But like any age, we were young and invincible. Running down the yellow brick road towards our destination. And then we seemed to have lost our way. We let our age and reason get in the way. We lost belief in our dreams and settled for what we had.

But we must never stop believing in those dreams or in what we want in life. We are never too old to give up the excitement of the journey. We are never too old to give up on our dreams. It all starts by putting one foot in front of the other.

The road may narrow and crack, it may be lonely for a while. But the road we take is still a journey to what we want in life. You can follow the road, make your own road or simply fly. Imagination and excitement will guide you to your destination. Just never stop believing.