So I had this weird realization the other day that I wanted to share with you...
I've actually started enjoying being the dumbest person in the room. Seriously!
Remember that house dance class I mentioned I was going to try? I went, and it was exactly as awkward as you'd expect. I was completely lost - wrong moves, wrong timing, basically a walking disaster compared to everyone else.
But here's the thing - instead of getting embarrassed and leaving, I stayed. And I kind of loved it.
It reminded me of when I started learning piano last year. I was determined to play that Chopin nocturne, even though my fingers felt like wooden sticks. I practiced an hour every day for six months straight. Sounded like a cat walking across keys at first! But eventually, something clicked. I wasn't just hitting notes - I was actually making music.
The secret? Just push through the part where you suck. That's it.
I did the same thing at this Japanese language meetup last week. First half was in English - easy. Second half switched to Japanese and I was DROWNING. But instead of checking out mentally, I leaned in. Paid attention to exactly what I didn't understand. Tried speaking anyway, even when I knew I'd mess up.
By the end of the night, I'd connected with a tutor and had a clear map of what I needed to learn next.
That's when it hit me: Being the dumbest person in the room isn't humiliating - it's exactly where growth happens.
I'm doing this with everything now. Even listening to scientists discuss quantum physics and consciousness when I barely understand half the terms.
The trick is just to stay. Don't retreat when you feel stupid. Enjoy that discomfort.
Because every single time I've done that, I've come out speaking a new language - whether it's piano notes, dance moves, Japanese phrases, or simply understanding something that used to be completely over my head.
Kind of addictive once you get past the initial awkwardness, you know?