CHUTZPAH

It's a fun word, isn't it?  chutz·pah (KHŏŏt'spə, hŏŏt'-) n. Nerve; effrontery (yiddish)  Fun to say, fun to have.  They say someone has it when they believe in themselves and can walk without abandon into a situation they may not know the outcome of.  

My three year old has chutzpah...enough to assume that everyone who enters our home wants to shoot hoops with him for their entire visit.  And they do.....at least for a while, when they see the sheer joy and happiness it brings this kid to pass the ball back and forth with them, becoming an instant BFFL.  Chutzpah is contagious too.  It's inspiring to see someone put themselves out there.  It makes you think the bridge is safe to cross.  Having chutzpah is crossing the bridge first.  Scary, but exhilarating....and utterly liberating.  I have not had many chances in my lifetime to possess this unconstrained, wonderful feeling; but when I have, it has brought me to places I would've never dreamed I'd go.  There is nothing sweeter than the taste of success from taking a risk, and nothing more gratifying than an accomplishment born from intuition.  

Today a friend had some chutzpah, and I commend her on it.  There was a misunderstanding and, without knowing the details, she put herself out there to find them out.  It takes a lot for a person to extend their hand not knowing if they'll be bit.  This kind of courage is a beautiful characteristic that is still somewhat foreign to me.  When upset by someone else, I simply resign myself to the state of acquiescence, saying there is nothing that can be done....oh but there is!  The things that are "hard" to do, (usually not quite as hard as you're imagining) are, by far, the most rewarding. 

Think of the people that ARE chutzpah.  They breathe it out of their pores and are the most intriguing, interesting individuals you know.  They know themselves.  They know their strengths & their weaknesses, but choose to "forget" the latter.  They realize life is short and their list is long.  

 Here's wishing you some "chutzpah" today :) 

Excerpt From Connecticut College's 1980 Commencement Speech by Alan Alda

"Nothing important was ever accomplished without chutzpah. Columbus had chutzpah. The signers of the Declaration of Independence had chutzpah. Don't ever aim your doubt at yourself. Laugh at yourself, but don't doubt yourself.  Let the strength of your desire give force and moment to your every step.  Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been.  You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You can't get there by bus, only by hard work and risk and by not quite knowing what you're doing, but what you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself."