Doing My Own Thing

Have you ever heard of the phrase, "Lead, Follow, or Get out of the Way?" I've been thinking a lot about it lately and how it applies to the digital scrapbooking world.

I looked it up and as a quote by Thomas Paine. (more quotes)

If one really begins to think about the phrase, it can become quite thought-provoking. No matter how much I think about it, I do not think I will ever really get it and how it applies.

I picture in my head a bunch of race horses running across a seemingly endless long field. There is the lead horse that everyone is following. Suddenly, the lead horse catches up with another horse. That horse has to choose to either run faster, follow, or get out of the way and go at its own slow pace. (Following my train of thought here yet? - pun intended!)

Where is teamwork in the quote? I suppose if you make the choice to be the follower, you are working as a team with the leader and everyone else who has chosen to follow that leader.

It seems to me that the digital scrapbooking world is so full of leader-want-to-be's. Obviously, you cannot just be a leader because you want to be a leader. Everyone deep down in some small way wants to be a leader. Being a leader means that people like you and who does not want to know they are liked?

So, a person tries to lead and does not get a following and, therefore, at some point has to give up and make a choice to either follow someone else or get out of the way.

What about that "get out of the way." What does that really mean? Consider these recent thoughts of mine.

Here is a screen shot of the NDISB gallery indicating that there were 445 people thus far who have done the challenge at my site. I feel that if a person is going to take the time to come to my site and actually do a challenge, that the least I owe them is to really look at their layout and to give them a genuine comment.

I won't share with you how many hours this past week and, most especially, yesterday alone, it took me to comment on all of those layouts. I could have been doing so many other things -- things for myself or my family.

Many people will think I am crazy (or stupid) to do such a thing. Surely no one expects me to do such a thing. However, just because no one expects it, does not make it right to ignore them all.

In my heart, I felt it was the right thing to do, so I am going to do what is right. That's the way I've always been. I always feel a conviction to just do what is right, no matter how much it takes out of me.

Someone asked me if I thought all of my comments would really matter. I told her to stop reminding me of the question I was throwing out of my own head while pushing myself to make that many comments. Will it matter? Will anyone be changed by it? Only God will know. I suppose if it helps one person, it is worth it. Will anyone come back to my site and become a regular because of it? I cannot worry about that. I cannot make that my motivation for commenting so much or it would just zap my inner being. My motivation must be because it is the right thing to do and because I never know what one person it may help and to just trust God that in doing the right thing, he will make some good of it.

But get this. Because it is the right thing to do, I made a layout with the freebie I received at the chat because I always feel it is the right thing to do to give back to the person I received the item from by sharing a layout.

However, 6 days later, there were 18 views and only three comments. So, I give 445 comments and receive back only 3. Where is the rightness in that? Should I feel hurt?

Of course, a person cannot help but notice when this happens. I can guarantee it happens to a lot of digital scrapbookers and many begin to feel hurt by the non-actions of others. If we all would just open our eyes and get out of our own little world and see, it would be such a better place.

It's not that everyone is expecting something in return for what they do, but just that it is hard not to notice such a thing and then, once you notice it, you have to shake it off. You have to let it roll off as something that doesn't really intentionally mean anything. Just try doing that enough times and see how much harder it gets each time?

I even made a thread, shared that layout, and encouraged others to give back to the maker of the freebie. There were 54 people who viewed that thread and yet never commented on my layout either.

Also, this thread was a "follow me," thread. I wanted others to do what was right. No one did. See, I guess I'm not a leader. Just a leader-want-to-be like everyone else.

Check this out. This is what you see in my gallery at DST. This is what I decided to do a long time ago. I like taking the attitude that I can comment on others layouts and not allow them to comment on mine! It's like saying "Nanny, nanny, boo, boo, I can give to you, but I'm not going to let you give to me!" Now you all think I am crazy, do you not?

More likely it is just easier to keep from setting myself up for the lack of comments. I removed my NISDB layout this morning from that gallery. It is much better to give than to receive.

So, in this case, I am just a follower. Right?

Or would you consider this as getting out of the way? Is this getting out of the way and just doing my own thing, not caring what other people think? I can quietly comment on hundreds of layouts and no one will ever know (that's what I do at DST and it feels just fine). However, is getting out of the way the right thing to do? It certainly is not being a team player.

See what I mean? My thoughts can really become twisted around this quote. I could continue, but I will not confuse you any more.

What about this graphic? I am forever in a constant amazement as to how many are subscribed to my blog. Today, there are almost 800 people.

I do not feel like a leader. Every time I try to start something that I think is this grand idea, no one follows me. For instance, I thought the upside down avatar idea was a grand idea. Not one person has followed me yet. I create challenges in my forums and no one follows me. The forums seem so dead compared to other sites (although I do appreciate the regulars!). I could go on and on about the things I thought were great ideas that I tried to get started, but no one would follow me.

I am nervous about no one following me to the St. Louis Digi-Gathering. I have really stuck my head out there signing a contract to pay a huge amount of money to reserve the room, but my mailbox continues to be empty of reservations. Maybe I was stupid once again to think anyone would follow me. If it flops, then everyone will just have to wait until some big-wig company comes along and chooses to create a digital scrapbooking gathering, because chances are no one else will take this risk. Of course, it will cost us all a lot more money to attend than just organizing it ourselves.

So, the question remains as to why so many follow this blog. What is it they want from it. They certainly do not follow the challenges I create and come to the forum. Do they just want to catch a freebie? Do they just want to catch a free video? Do they enjoy my thoughts about God and Me?

Or maybe they just want to snoop, see what I am up to, and steal my ideas so that they can try to be a leader. Ah, okay, there is truth to that -- I have seen it done, but always keep it to myself. That has been happening for years, even before I had a forum.

That puts a whole new light on the quote. Now we have, "Lead, follow, or snoop and run." It makes me wonder how much of the political world is this way.

While reading layout journaling of those who did my ASDR challenge, I saw many that were making goals to simplify life. This was certainly inspiration and a good thing. However, I can only wonder if in simplifying their life if they are just making a choice to "get out of the way."

It is certainly easier to just do your own thing. Surely less stress. But what would the world be like if everyone just did their own thing? What if no one lead and no one followed?

See, I warned you that this quote was thought provoking!

Well, except for planning the St. Louis Digi-Gathering, now that ASDR is behind me, that is what I am going to be doing for a while. I am just going to be doing my own thing. If you are blessed by it, praise God. If you follow me, great. I'd love to have you along. If by doing my own thing I choose to follow someone else in a challenge, then I will have fun. You can follow me there if you like.

Okay, are you laughing yet? See how twisted the quote can get? You really cannot do just one of them. They all three are intertwined and tangled together. Therefore, we cannot live our lives without other people.

It is time to stop thinking. My brain hurts now.

I would, however, love to read your thoughts. Leave a comment please.

Oh, and I probably should have this at the top, but sometimes the small print at the bottom is more effective. We should not fail to share the real person we are to always follows: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).