So, I love going to Buffalo Wild Wings on Thursdays, because their boneless wings are only 60 cents each, and it's amazing. My favorite wing sauce (right when I typed that, I decided that if you have a really good wing man, you should call them your wing sauce) is Spicy Parmesan. But I have a problem. Every time I've gone to BWW, I have bought several wings of three different flavors: Spicy Parmesan, Thai Curry, and Mango Habanero. It's just kind of become tradition. The Mango Habanero tastes SOO GOOD. But only for like 20 seconds. From there on out, it just sets your mouth in a blaze of fire that is overwhelming and paralyzing. I just went again with a friend, and he just sat there uncomfortably as he watched me sniff and cough and cry and hyperventilate...I started choking at one point, and even went almost catatonic for a bit. Yet, for some reason, I still get the Mango Habanero every time. IT'S NOT WORTH IT. I always go home sick and sad and scared. Our bodies are not meant to go through such trauma. I tell you this story because the first step is to publicly admit that you have a problem. So there you go. I have a problem. If we ever go to Buffalo Wild Wings together, do not let me get the Mango Habanero, under any circumstances.
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A couple days ago, I woke up, got ready for school, went to work, hopped onto facebook, and I had about 50 notifications...at 9 in the morning. Much to my surprise, a good number of my friends had either posted on my wall, or just tagged me in their status, telling me how great they believe I am. Most of them ended with "#pogofoxrocks" and all of them had "#TPAD". I wasn't really sure what was going on...so I moved on to work on other things I had to do that day. Half an hour later, I had 40 more notifications. I don't know who started it, or why in the world it happened, but somehow without my knowledge a random day became "Todd Partridge Appreciation Day." (By the way, it took me until like 2 o'clock to figure out what TPAD meant.)
And it never slowed down. Friends from the choir I am in, my cousins, my family, missionaries from my mission, high school acquaintances, friends I haven't seen in 4 or 5 years....they ALL were sending me messages and posting on my wall and sharing pictures of me and naming all the ways that I had been a blessing in their lives. It was completely overwhelming. Anyone I saw that day gave me a great big hug and started complimenting me, until I ran off because I "had something to do..."
Went I went to rehearsal that day, there were about 35 handwritten notes and a giant Snickers bar there for me. No place was safe. It was crazier than a birthday. I was under attack of a barrage of love and gratitude everywhere I went. There was nowhere to hide. I found myself hiding behind walls and sneaking through hallways to avoid more unnecessary fawning.
And you know what? It was an incredible day. I still don't really understand why it happened, but it was incredible. I heard from friends I haven't spoken to in years, reminding me of times we had had together that I hadn't thought of in a long time. I had brand new friends highlighting for me ways that I had already influenced their life for the good even in the short amount of time we've known each other. At the end of the day, I just went home and cried.
Every day I strive to follow even the subtlest suggestions from the Holy Ghost, to know how to bless others' lives, even in minute ways. But, for the most part, you just have to live by faith that what you're doing is making a difference because it was inspired. Usually, in the little things, you don't get an opportunity to learn that what you did actually touched someone's heart. To have a day that suddenly confirmed to me (out of nowhere) that I really can and do make a difference in people's lives was humbling and empowering.
I think it's important for us to know what we have accomplished, what our current abilities are, and what we have the potential to become and do. Recognizing our strengths isn't prideful. Believing that we are intrinsically better than others, or that we've become what we are on our own...that's pride. But deflecting compliments, ignoring your talents, living below your potential so as not to stand out, or claiming to be less than you are...that is also pride. What would happen if Heavenly Father didn't accept and understand all that He can do? What if, when we praised Him, He replied with "No, I'm really not that great. Thank you, but I've really just gotten lucky, I'm not as powerful as you think. That's really kind, but I actually have a lot more to learn before I could consider myself an expert in that subject"? What would be the point of a god who couldn't recognize everything that he was?
There would be no point, because that god wouldn't be able to fill the role he had been given power to fill. It is the same with us. It's so important for us to help each other see what our strengths are. Because it's hard to see it in ourselves. It's easier to see how our fellow beings glow and change the world. So tell them what it is you've seen them do, because they might not realize it. And next time you are complimented on the power that you have, be humble and aware enough to accept it, and to use that knowledge to become an even greater asset. :)
Because of #TPAD, I have a better understanding now that I really can be a positive influence in the lives of the people I love. Because of #TPAD, I have a greater confidence to move forward and bless people in ways no one else might. And you know what? I'm so excited to see what else I can accomplish.
My name is Todd Partridge, and I have a powerful ability to make sure people feel loved. I have been blessed with an immensely creative mind that helps me serve people in ways no one else thinks of, and that helps me create new environments for people to come together and bond with each other. I have a deep and unshakable faith in Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that my ability to gain and retain gospel knowledge is so vast. I can quickly recognize and understand the hand of angels in my life and the lives of others. I have an incredibly large number of people that I can truly call my friends, and I am a good friend. I know that God has given me these talents and abilities so that I can do many great works for Him, and I will not shirk that responsibility.
...Your turn. Post on your status, or on this blog, or under my facebook post....I don't care...just post somewhere, for the world to see, a humble declaration of what God has given you that makes you powerful. It will make you think, and it will feel weird, and it might be hard...but your effort to do this will give you a greater confidence and conviction to be a powerful influence in others' lives. Your post will likely be one of Heavenly Father's favorite ways that you've decided to show gratitude to Him today. So...what's so special about you?
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