I was outside today.

I could hardy help it, the day was so beautiful.

It’s always been a case of “whistle, and I’ll come for you, my lad” when it comes to outside and me. It’s not enough to know it’s there, not enough to see it through a window, I have to go put myself there. I’ve always been that kind of learner, I think. A kinesthetic one. Which is why I hate to listen to someone giving me directions. Well that, and they’re pretty darn boring, too. Perhaps if our highways were called something other than INTERSTATE 95–like maybe, THE ROAD OF UNENDING POSSIBILITIES! Or even, The Naked Mole Rat Road, cause at least that’s interesting, you know?–maybe then, I’d listen.

But, I’ve always done much better when I can feel something, rather than just hear about it. That’s probably why I like to dance so much. You don’t get much closer to feeling something than putting your whole body soul and spirit into movement, I think.

But anyway, I was outside and I was thinking and going back over some conversations I’ve had with my friends. And sometimes I am encouraging them and sometimes they are encouraging me, but the common theme is:

• someone wants to do something
• that someone doesn’t think they are good enough
• because look! that’s what so-and-so does, and I am most definitely (and disappointingly) not so-and-so
• and then someone tells the doubting someone (not to be confused with poor, doubting thomas) that they should go ahead and try to do it anyway; that dreams are beautiful, shy things that need to be encouraged and cared for and nurtured like a tiny baby who’s as beautiful and fragile as they come.

So yes, I’ve had these conversations so many times. We recycle them. Sometimes I play the first someone and sometimes I play the second someone, but always, I hear this conversation around me.

And this is what I thought about today, while I was outside: Everything great that we look at and get both inspired by and intimidated by has been done by a person.

A PERSON.

And what are you? And what am I?

Yes, I do believe it is safe to say that each of us is a person.

And unless your dream is to be the eighth member of a dog sled team in Alaska, than I would say it is also safe to say that the dreams that have been realized around you have been realized by people.

Just like you and just like me.

I know this is so simple, but it struck me today. All of the great books that I read reverently and with such awe have been written by people. All of the songs that move me and spell out what is happening inside my own heart in a way that is downright uncanny have been written by people.

Same with the dances. And the movies. And the businesses. And the healthy, beautiful families.

All of these feats have been done by people, just like us.

So let’s step up and do whatever it is that we want to and realize that it’s not so crazy to do the things that we dream of; it’s simply our turn, is all.