I've Got to be Me

"When you really understand who you are, it enables you to fight and believe."

~ Phil Knight

When I took my part time bus driving job almost 3 years ago,my brother offered me a bit of sage advice.

"Don't be the smartest guy in the room.......just drive the bus."

For the longest time,I tried to heed his warning.As I settled into my position there were times when opportunities to improve upon what we do and how we do it popped up. For the most part, I would  wait for someone to ask for my thoughts. Occasionally, when it was appropriate I would gently offer up suggestions, almost always asking for permission as to not overstep any boundaries.

This has been exhausting and ultimately very stressful for me.

While I may not be the smartest guy on every subject in the world, for the most part I am smarter than most on many things,specifically those areas of expertise where I know how smart I am.

Stifling myself,my intuition, my creativity and my innate abilities just doesn't work for me.

In the words of the song from the Broadway show The Golden Rainbow,written by Walter Marks, I've got to be me!

It's one of my favorite songs. When I hear it on the radio, I can't help but to crank up the volume.Invariably I will bellow along with who ever is singing it,Sinatra, Sammy,Steve Lawrence or Robert Goulet. It doesn't matter, I love them all.

Verse after verse, it resonates so loudly inside of me. Well not just inside of me, which is why I can't help but to join in.I have to let it out.

And so it is in my daily life, including driving my bus.

I've got to be me.

So,"whether I'm right or whether I'm wrong

Whether I find a place in this world or never belong"

I've got to be me.

Why?

Because "I want to live, not merely survive

And I won't give up this dream

Of life that keeps me alive".

I've got to be me.

"I won't settle down, won't settle for less"

"Daring to try, to do it or die"

I've gotta be me.

So much for not being the smartest guy in the room!

Shabbat Shalom!