Sparking a Wild Fire of Awesomeness

Our attitudes, energies, and spirits affect those around us. Let’s use this superpower for good, not ill.

Hello and welcome, treasured one—

I’m always excited when the NFL season kicks off. Whether fans, or experts, think a team will be good, average, or not so good; nobody knows for sure. Beginnings are something of a clean slate like that. I enjoy the ways this allows for hope, dreams, and possibilities—especially when it comes my favorite team, the Seattle Seahawks.

Speaking of which—after over a decade of waiting—this year Lisa and I got season tickets for the Hawks. I mention that not because it’s a dream come true—although it totally is—but because there’s something magical that happens when you are at Lumen Field, watching participating in a game in person. The energy is contagious. The excitement is palpable. The zest for the home team is almost overwhelming—in the best of ways. At a game, the passionate support for the Seahawks—and one another—carries you away to a different place.

While communal passion, support, celebration, joy, togetherness, and the like, has been the vast majority of my experience at the stadium. There have been glimpses of hostility, belligerence, and such. And although these are typically just one or two people being silly; occasionally the crowd has gotten vitriolic for a short period of time. This group dynamic gets at something vital for us to remember, so we can flourish together:

Energy is contagious.

The attitude we project, infects others.

Which means:

Kindness inspires kindness.

Violence begets violence.

Grace manifests grace.

Fear induces fear.

Hope births hope.

Anger activates anger.

Courage creates courage.

Compassion spreads compassion.

Love precipitates love.

In this regard, I think of mob mentality and flash mobs as two sides of the same coin. Both dynamics feature a few instigators sparking a “flame” within others, which tends to spread like a wild fire. Reflecting on the mob mentality side of things, I think here of my time in the air force. In the days, and years following 9/11; I recall how the dehumanizing words and images leaders, and influencers, used to portray our largely Islamic enemies infected us. I can still feel how it shifted the way I viewed Arabs in a subconscious manner.

Conversely—and please note I am deeply grateful and honored to have served in the military—I think of Blissology’s trainings and events. This international yoga school, which I’m stoked to be a part of, emphasizes connection, hugs, curiosity, celebration, playfulness, joy, and love. Being with these beautiful beings lifts me to a higher level.

This reminds me of how my uncle Lawrence picking up the tab for a group dinner, unlocked a well of generosity within me. Or how my partner’s thoughtfulness, hospitality, and habit of complimenting others, grows the love in my heart. Or the way my sister opens her home to a wide variety of people, inspires the same energy in me. What I’m getting at is:

Small acts of kindness, spark wild fires of awesomeness.

With that in mind: How about you and I light a fire together?

How does this resonate with you? Does it spark or inspire something within? Please let us know in the comments, subscribe and click the “like” button 🤍 if this spoke to you, and share it with anyone you think it could benefit. And above all, please remember: You are amazing, and I hope you have a beautiful day!

Hugs & Love,

Lang (aka “Dr. Love”)