When Someone Sees You Differently Than You See Yourself

I just had a moment with a customer that was so endearing. I had published my blog post and was still reflecting on last night and feeling pretty vulnerable and anxious. I’m alone in the shop today and just doing my job like normal when this woman walked up to me and said she just wanted me to know that I’m a really sweet guy and I have good energy.

I’m having a hard time taking it in and feeling like I deserve to be told something like that and at the same time, hearing those words said to me was beautiful.

Here’s where my mind went. First it was wow, I can’t believe someone actually felt this way about me or perceived me this way. Then it was… am I this guy? Then it was a replay of all the things I’ve done in my life that contradict the very thing she said to me.

Yes I know… this is black and white thinking and there is nuance to everything. Which means, in that moment what she said was probably true, but that doesn’t mean I embody that version of myself consistently or all of the time. I’d like to. It feels good to be witnessed in a version of myself that I value and that I’d like to be more of.

Annnnnnd here are the tears. I don’t think this woman will ever know how much I needed to hear those words. I’m silently thanking her for sharing her thoughts with me… and it’s giving me some motivation to want to find myself more often than I do.

I wish I had the ability to process things more quickly. It would have been nice to thank her outloud.