Stairway that uplifts

I found this stairway on the Zig Ziglar site.  If you don’t know the late Zig Ziglar (1926-2012), he was well respected for his motivational speeches and his helpful “believe in yourself” guides to personal and professional success.  You probably need to read at least one ZZ book in your life, no matter what your profession is.

I was intrigued by this staircase.  Some of the steps express wonderful philosophies: we make mistakes, we give hugs, etc.  If you’re like me, the step that may puzzle you just a bit is near the top: “we do really loud.”  But if you have ever shared an afternoon with a buoyant three-year-old, I’ll bet you can easily relate to the “really loud”!   Becky is the expert on such a topic; granddaughter Aeris — who is nearing her fourth birthday — loves to talk to people (even when they may be trying to have their own conversation).  Aeris also latches onto phrases she’s heard, and she peppers many of her days with those phrases: SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!  There’s probably a lesson there: anything you say around her, or indeed, anything she hears on the tv set, is fair game.

Three-year-old, nearing four-year-old, brains are little sponges; they are constantly absorbing information about the world and the people around them.  They are trying to, quite literally, find their own voice.  That’s a terrific accomplishment.  Find your own voice.  Even if it’s really loud.