The Power of Encouraging Excitement Instead of Shutting It Down
So we just got back from an amazing few weeks in Thailand. We learned so much, ate so much, saw so much, enjoyed so much. It was incredible. One of our favorite things to do when traveling is to go to markets and see how other cultures live. We were in for a treat as Thailand has SO many markets. They have morning markets, afternoon markets, night markets, Saturday night markets, weekend markets, floating markets. It's amazing and right up our alley. We went to 2 markets in Chiang Mai and it was at least a mile on both sides of the street with some offshoots at some intersections (they close down the road for these things). Another one we got to experience was Chatachuk Market in Bangkok. They claim to be the largest weekend market in the world with over 15,000 stalls and about 200,000 visitors each weekend. It. Was. Awesome. Lots of things to see, cheap gear ($3-5 t shirts and pants), so much street food (I love me a meat skewer) and lots of good people watching and music. We were in Rooney Weekend Heaven.
The reason I am telling you about this is to bring you in on one of our favorite things.
Further into this, I want to tell you about saying, "I don't like that", "I hate that", "I would hate that" or "ugh how can you like that".
I have been on a journey of thinking about the words that come out of my mouth for years now. When I met my husband 17 years ago, I used to say "I hate that" a lot. He combatted it with, "what do you love", and I finally realized I don't need to utter those words, thus breaking me (mostly) of that habit.
Now coming back from an EPIC 3 weeks in Thailand, we have been excited to tell anyone who asks about our adventures. However, it is interesting to know how many people interject their personal feelings into your own personal tales. Talking about the huge markets with wall to wall people (that we LOVE) and having someone respond with how they would hate that. It. Makes. My. Skin. Crawl.
Why do we do things like this? I have read plenty of memes and similar posts talking about instead of responding to people that you could never or you hate something, just say wow that's so cool, it sounds like you really love that! I am slowly and momentously realizing the impact of what we say in our reactions to the people around us. If someone is talking about a team you don't like or a car you think is cool, instead of commenting what you think about that thing, realize these people are sharing something they are excited about. You have NO reason to respond by putting that thing down. Just support and encourage the folks that WANT to tell you anything about their day or life with excitement.
I am not 100% here on this, but I am determined AF to show up for the people in my life in this way. So I can gladly tell people how excited I am to be at a market with over 200,000 other people because it IS MY JAM.
Happy Tuesday :)
