Nuh-uh Who Said?

If you were an only child you probably didn't hear this statement until your first play date or first day of kindergarten. If you had siblings then you heard it as soon as all of you learned to talk. Child one declares "I am going to ___" (fill in the blank with any task a child might attempt). Child one is met by a chorus of "Nuh-uh Who Said?" Which is sibling slang for "Who gave you permission to think you could attempt said feat?" Child one then must confirm that the permission was given by Mommy, Daddy, Babysitter etc.

In grade school student one states her goal and must divuldge the teacher who granted approval to proceed; in college a Professor or Dean provides this key. Finally, adulthood - she's sitting in the board room delivering the presentation in which countless hours have been invested and her peers demand "Who authorized this approach? Did you include approved copies of the final draft in the presentation packet?" Which is grown up speak for "Nuh-uh Who Said?"

In the Bruce Cockburn song "Pacing the Cage" there is a great line "I've proved who I am so many times the magnetic strip's worn thin." We learn to seek approval from others and provide these credentials repeatedly upon demand. Do we also learn to choose this temporary and often fickle approval over the quiet confidence gained through self-approval and acceptance?

Maybe not. But, if you find yourself worried more about what others think than what you know about yourself then you are like me, and I have a challenge for you. The next time you have an idea followed by self-doubt ("nuh-uh who said?") then outloud reply "I did! So shut up, sit down and hang on because this train is leaving the station and I am not looking back!"